On Sunday, November 4th, daylight savings time comes to an end which means clocks are turned back and we must adjust back to having the sun shine brightly early in the morning and the sun setting earlier in the evening. Although most are able to adjust to the time change after about a week or so, there are other things that may need to be adjusted as well. Our driving.
While most drivers have grown accustomed over the last few months to driving when the sun is still out or partially shining during the early evening hours, with the clocks turning back, it will now get dark earlier. That means more individuals who get out of work or school later will be required to travel when it is dark outside. Although it may not seem to be too much of a concern right now, the fact is, “depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision can be comprised in the dark, and the glare of headlights from an oncoming vehicle can temporarily blind a driver” [Source: National Safety Council (NSC)].
Aside from it being more difficult for some motorists to operate their vehicles in the dark, it is also riskier. The NSC says that “the risk of a fatal crash [occurring] is three times greater at night.” With this fact in mind, below we share a few tips on how to combat the darkness provided on behalf of the NSC as daylight savings time approaches to ensure your safety is not compromised while out driving.
- Make sure your headlights are working and are clean, especially if you drive on desolate roads and those with few street lights.
- Dim your dashboard.
- Avoid looking into oncoming lights. This can impair your visions for a short period of time but long enough to cause you to collide into someone else or run off the roadway.
- If you wear glasses, be sure they are anti-reflective.
- Keep your windshield and mirrors clean.
- Drive at a slower speed to “compensate for limited visibility and reduced stopping time.” Did you know that “even with [your] high-beam headlights on, [your] visibility is limited to about 500 feet [which creates] less time to react to something in the road?”
While some accidents are inevitable, a majority of them are preventable. Therefore, aside from getting yourself adjusted to the new time change, it is also important you adjust your driving so that you decrease the chances of engaging in an accident or causing one.
What should I do if I was recently injured in an auto accident in Jackson, MS?
If an automobile accident recently occurred in Jackson that left you injured, you should consider contacting the car accident attorneys at the Heilman Law Group, PA located in Jackson, MS. Although you may have already filed an insurance claim under your policy or with the other driver’s insurer, you may be entitled to more compensation than what they are offering, and our attorneys can help determine what this amount is.
The fact is, insurance companies will often try and settle quickly without taking into account the true damage that has been caused. So, to avoid being provided with a lowball offer that won’t be enough to cover your injuries and/or property damage, it is best that you have a qualified team of MS car accident lawyers working by your side, helping you recover the amount of compensation you are actually entitled to receive.
The Heilman Law Group, PA can be reached at:
42661 I-55 North, Suite 106
Jackson, MS 39211
601-914-1025
