Avoiding The Dangers Of Early Morning Driving

Whether you’re up early on a Sunday morning to enjoy a peaceful drive or you worked the late shift and are getting home in the wee hours of the morning there are many reasons why you may be on the road in the early morning hours. Just as you might any other time when you are out driving you should be on alert for the dangers that are presented by the time of day you are driving which could lead to a New Haven auto accident and cause you to injure yourself or others.

Driving during the early morning hours can give you a false sense of safety because often the roads are less crowded and there are less hazards to navigate, but the truth is the risks still exist and if you are not careful you may be putting yourself in a situation where you are going to let your guard down. In the event that this happens you could be driving too fast or not paying as close attention to the road in front of you and you could be putting yourself and passengers you are driving with at risk of getting injured.

The first and most important thing you can do when you’re driving in the early morning hours is to remain alert. There is never a time of day when you are driving your vehicle where you can let your guard down to the dangers that surround you. At certain times of the day you may find that there are differing dangers that could impact your safety, but you need to be alert and prepared for all of them so that you can remain safe while you’re getting to your destination.

Here are some issues that might arise that could make your early morning drive a little less safe. If you know these and can work to avoid them or combat them in some small way you will be doing your part to make sure that you arrive at your destination safely and without incident.

1.) Drowsiness. Whether you woke up early for your morning ride or you have yet to make it to bed as you drive home from somewhere you may be putting yourself at risk of getting into an accident. Many studies place drowsy driving right up there with distracted driving and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol in terms of how dangerous this behavior can be. If you’re having trouble keeping your eyes open while you’re driving you should immediately pull over to the side of the road and take a break so you can regain your alertness and stay safe while driving.

2.) Reduced visibility due to low light. The light levels while you’re driving can change suddenly when you are driving in the early morning hours. You can go from driving in pitch black darkness to being blinded by a rising sun in the blink of an eye and when that happens your visibility can be reduced. You should always keep an extra pair of sunglasses in the car in the event that you are driving and the light shifts to lower your visibility.

3.) Impaired drivers. While you may not be driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you may be sharing the road with someone who is. Crashes involving those drivers who are under the influence frequently occur in the early morning hours of the day. There is not a lot you can do to avoid these drivers, but you can take precautions if you see someone who is driving erratically and swerving in and out of lanes or speeding excessively. You can report them immediately to 911 and then pull over until they pass you by.

4.) The final hazard you should be on the lookout for is increased wildlife activity. Animals are generally more active at dawn and dusk and therefore if you’re driving at that time of the day you may be putting yourself at risk of getting into an accident with an animal. Remember to drive the speed limit and when you are driving around a sharp corner on a rural road to remain alert for the possibility that an animal may be lingering in the road.

Early morning driving may not be avoidable depending on your circumstances, but if you must hit the road before the roosters begin crowing you should make sure you are alert to all of the unique hazards that are presented when you’re driving at that time of the day. While you cannot completely avoid all of these hazards and decrease your chances of a New Haven auto accident to zero, you can take steps to limit your risks and put your safety in your own hands.

When an accident happens you may be shocked or hurt and it may be a difficult time to reach out to someone for help, but you should. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.