Table of Contents
Advertisement
While driving on a surface with reduced
traction, try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration, or braking
(including engine braking by shifting to
a lower gear). Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not
realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize
warning clues
-
such as enough water,
ice or packed snow on the road to make a
"mirrored surface"
-
and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system
(ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.
I
1
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day
driving. One reason is that some drivers
are likely to be impaired
-
by alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
0
Drive defensively.
0
Don't drink and drive.
0
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to
reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
Since you can't see as well, you may
need to slow down and keep more
space between you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher
speed roads. Your headlights can light
up only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you're tired, pull off the road in a
safe place and rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in
the daytime. But as we get older these
differences increase. A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also
affect your night vision. For example, if
you spend the day in bright sunshine you
are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night.
But if you're driving, don't wear
sunglasses at night. They may cut down
on glare from headlights, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by
approaching lights. It can take a second
or two, or even several seconds, for your
eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are
faced with severe glare (as from a driver
who doesn't lower the high beams, or a
131
..
Advertisement
Table of Contents
