Despite the almost empty roads, the negligible likelihood of meeting cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, night is not the best time to travel. Especially dangerous, according to experts, twilight - morning or evening, but complete darkness also provokes emergency situations. That is why it is worth going on a long journey by car for people who already have at least three years of driving experience. If you are unsure of your own skills, find another way to get to the right place.
Of course, it is better not to think about the bad, but to show prudence and prepare for any situations and possible consequences of a long night trip. Unfortunately, there are practically no drivers who fully adhere to all safety recommendations. Therefore, the NarsKars company provides not only car rental services, but also informational and technical support for its customers 24/7.
Tips for beginners
Everyone, without exception, remembers that each person has their own biological clock, in accordance with which one needs to soberly assess their ability to stay awake overnight without losing vigilance and attention. Since the driver's main enemy on the night road is sleep, the best preparation would be to get a good night's sleep, have an easy dinner, and wash yourself with ice water. If overwhelming drowsiness overtook you in motion, stop immediately and sleep at least half an hour. Special anti-sleep devices made in the form of an earpiece or a ring will help to avoid sudden falling asleep; they control the state of a person and when certain parameters change, they turn on vibration and / or sound.
It is very important to stop drinking alcohol, not to engage in heavy physical work and limit the time spent at the computer or TV. Regarding the technical side of the trip, the main attention should be paid to the elements that provide good visibility:
- wash and adjust the headlights - on a night road, a lot depends on good lamps and optics;
- Bring spare headlamps with you, especially if they have a non-standard design;
- check the brightness and flush the taillights if necessary;
- if the wiper blades on the car are worn out, replace them;
- drive into the car wash or wash the vehicle windows yourself;
- adjust and clean all mirrors.
All cars in the rental companies are issued to the client completely ready for travel, but it will not be superfluous to check everything yourself, because your health and life depend on it. Remember, if your car is not equipped with an automatic high-beam control system, it should be muted when oncoming traffic, as well as catching up with a passing car.
Preparedness for any dangers and surprises: advice on behavior
The main rule of night driving is as follows: only what you can clearly see is safe. Anything can happen outside the coverage area of the car's headlights and you need to be prepared for this. Based on long-term observations of experts and the practical experience of drivers, a kind of set of rules has been created that will help you safely get to the destination of your trip:
- the speed of movement in conditions of limited visibility is selected by the driver depending on the road conditions, but must allow making the necessary maneuvers. Optimally - up to 50 km / h (low beam headlights), up to 90 km / h (high beam);
- keep an eye on the distance, because at night the visual perception of distance changes - a new object seems farther than it really is;
- give up sharp maneuvers, even if you have a huge driving experience behind you, especially in the immediate vicinity of other road users;
- driving in the dark on an unfamiliar road, use the median strip or the edge of the curb as a guide;
- an excellent assistant in the dark is the navigator, which can be taken from NarsCars as an additional option. Adjust the scale and be aware of all the curves of the track;
- the well-known advice “to follow the leader” at night can do a disservice - if the first driver makes a mistake, your chances of getting into an accident increase significantly. In addition, monotonous driving provokes a drowsy state and leads to a decrease in vigilance;
- a single burning headlight on the track in front of you does not at all indicate an approaching motorcycle. Equally likely, it could be a half-blind car, so just in case, take your foot off the accelerator and push yourself to the side of the road until the situation is completely cleared up;
- in cases where the silhouette of an oncoming vehicle is similar in outline to a truck, prudently leave a greater lateral spacing - the cab of the truck may be smaller than the body or trailer;
- if an oncoming car blinded your eyes, act strictly according to traffic rules: without changing the lane, turn on the emergency gang and slow down.
Going on a sudden trip, for example, a business trip from Kiev to a distant city, leave at least an hour and a half for sleep. This is enough to stay awake for 3 to 4 hours. Our car rental, subject to booking, provides the necessary cars even at night, the employee will bring the car right to your house while you relax before a difficult trip.
When renting a car specifically for a family trip, plan an itinerary in advance using various applications on the Internet. It is better to print the finished map, since there is not a good connection everywhere. We highly do not recommend the side of the road as a place for a night stop. It is more correct to choose crowded and lighted places: traffic police posts or gas stations.
If your vehicle breaks down at night, try to roll it over to the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights and display an emergency stop sign. NarsCars customers need to call us right away, tell us their coordinates and don't worry about anything else: we don't leave ours in trouble!
