Night Driving Brings More Risks For Teen Drivers

Driving at night can bring a number of risks for experienced drivers, which is why it can be even more difficult for teen drivers. There are many factors that contribute to drivers having a harder time driving at night, which we address in this article. Find out some of the risks associated with driving at night for teens below!

Common Risks For Night Driving

You will notice when driving at night, it is very different from driving during the day. The obvious risk is reduced visibility for the driver. This means there will be less time to see and react to road signs, upcoming curves, a car swerving into the driver's lane, someone crossing the street and other things. When driving at night, drivers should slow down and be more cautious of their surroundings.

Another risk when driving at night is other road users are more likely to be driving impaired or driving drowsy. That is why driving slow and giving yourself more time to react to these other drivers is key. The lack of illumination is a big factor too, as it doesn't allow you to adjust to changing road conditions as easily. Plus, some people don't have the vision at night that they would during the daylight, with headlights blurring their vision.

Night Driving Restrictions For Teens

Most states take part in the Graduated Driver Licensing system and with that, 49 states and the District of Columbia all have a night driving restriction for teens. Driving at night increases the risk of fatal crashes for all drivers, especially young drivers. That is why the nighttime restrictions are in place. It varies by state, but the most common cutoff times are 11 p.m. or midnight.

Night Driving Statistics

From Teen Driver Source, here are some other night driving statistics to consider:

• In 2019, most teenage motor vehicle crash deaths happened from 9 pm - midnight (18%). Right behind it were crashes between 6 pm - 9 pm (15%) and between 3 pm - 6 pm (15%).
• 55% of drivers and passengers killed in motor vehicle crashes at night in 2019 were not wearing a seat belt.

Alcohol use, distracted driving and seat belts are often discussed with teens in great length, but the dangers of nighttime driving don't seem to be as intensely discussed, but they should be. The numbers above prove that!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.