When you look at car accident stats, there are typically more of them that occur during the daylight hours than during the night. This is because the volume of traffic during such times is a lot higher. However, upon closer inspection, the risk of being involved in an accident is actually heightened at nighttime.
If you have ever wondered why this happens, here are a few potential reasons cited by the National Safety Council.
Visibility is reduced
Perhaps the most obvious reason for an increased number of car accidents is that visibility is reduced when it’s dark outside. Many drivers fail to see pedestrians or cyclists. Some of them can’t see stop signs or other traffic controls. A lot of accidents happen just because it’s harder to see, even with the headlights on.
Drivers are more fatigued
Even when it’s not that late, your body automatically responds to the fact that it’s dark outside. It’s more common to feel fatigued when you’re driving during the dark. This can lead to accidents as drivers nod off behind the wheel or when they’re just not quite as attentive as they would be earlier in the day.
Drunk-driving increases
Furthermore, drunk driving is more common at night. This risk increase has less to do with the night itself than with the fact that this is just when people traditionally consume more alcohol. Plus, impairment can make other issues, such as fatigue or a lack of visibility, even worse than they would be for sober drivers.
If you get injured in a car accident caused by one of these unsafe drivers, you may need to seek compensation for your medical bills and other costs. It could help to work with an experienced team that understands these types of cases.
