While driving in both day and night time has its risks, it is riskier for motorists to drive at night. After all, your vision becomes more limited in the dark, and it can be difficult to navigate for some. That’s why it is important for public and private roads to be relatively safe for motorists.
Here are a few measures public and private roads can take to ensure the safety of motorists driving at night.
Provide Adequate Lighting
One of the main risks motorists face when driving at night is limited visibility because of a lack of lighting, even with headlights. So, it’s essential to provide them with adequate lighting, especially on major thoroughfares to make driving at night safer for everyone.
There are several types of placements for roadway lighting that make them more efficient in promoting safer night driving for motorists. Here are the ones recommended by the Department of Energy (DOE):
Single-Sided Lighting
In a single-sided lighting arrangement, all light fixtures are placed along one side of the road. This setup is commonly used for narrow streets and highways, where space or budget constraints limit lighting placement. It provides sufficient illumination for vehicles and pedestrians on one side while minimizing installation costs.
Staggered Lighting
Staggered lighting alternates light fixtures on both sides of the roadway in a zigzag pattern. This approach ensures even light distribution across wider roads, reducing shadows and providing safe roads at night for drivers and pedestrians alike. Used in tandem with quality road marking supplies, staggered lighting is ideal for medium to wide roads with moderate traffic volumes.
Opposite Lighting
In opposite lighting, fixtures are installed directly across from each other on both sides of the road. This setup is suitable for wide roads, highways, and expressways, providing consistent and symmetrical lighting coverage that reduces dark spots.
Twin Central Lighting
Twin central lighting placements involve double light fixtures installed on a central median, casting light on both sides of the road. It is a suitable solution for narrow roads that range from 10 to 15 meters wide, offering balanced illumination while minimizing the need for poles.
The DOE also has specific requirements for the types of lighting used and pole heights that need to be followed for the safety of roads at night for both motorists and pedestrians. It’s best to consult their guidelines to ensure compliance.
Use Reflective Paint
Using reflective thermoplastic road marking paint can make a big difference in motorist safety. Unlike regular paints that are barely visible at night, our premium thermoplastic paints have glass beads mixed into the paint to increase reflectivity in dark conditions.
When drivers use their headlights at night, reflective road marking paint reflects the light back, giving a glowing appearance and allowing the driver to see the markings better. By being able to see road markings and signs better, drivers can avoid getting into accidents due to unseen markings or warnings.
Signs with Retroreflective Borders
Traffic signs, electronic signals, and other warnings on the road may not be as visible at night. Instead of relying on static signs or stop signs alone, installing retroreflective borders onto signs can increase visibility and direct traffic.
This is to improve visibility even further. While traffic lights can be seen to a certain extent, different environments like heavy rain or fog can make it even more difficult to drive at night. And because traffic lights normally have black background, it can be even more difficult to see when it blends into the background. Thus, reflective borders can greatly help visibility.
Raised Pedestrian Islands
Medians or pedestrian islands in the middle of a road can prevent drivers from colliding with pedestrians and cyclists trying to cross the road. In the dark, a driver may be unable to see pedestrians crossing until it is too late. And without an island, pedestrians are at risk of oncoming traffic when trying to cross the road.
These are popular safety measures in high-traffic areas and intersections. This can protect pedestrians and help them cross the street more safely at night. They can serve as a temporary refuge for pedestrians crossing busy streets, allowing them to pause safely if they cannot cross the entire roadway at once. This setup is especially beneficial in urban areas where traffic flow is heavy and unpredictable, reducing accidents and improving overall traffic safety.
These islands are also more effective when used in tandem with pedestrian lanes made using reflective road paints. Reflective road paints enhance visibility, especially under vehicle headlights, guiding both drivers and pedestrians to designated crossing points. When combined with proper roadway lighting, such as twin central lighting on medians, these measures create a well-lit, highly visible, and safer environment for all road users.
Block Jaywalking
A 2016 study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention found that evening or late-night collisions in Metro Manila more likely result in a pedestrian’s death. One of the biggest contributions to this are traffic violations for both drivers and pedestrians, one of which could be jaywalking or crossing the street in an unauthorized crossing zone.
Taking steps like fencing the sidewalk or adding more practical pedestrian crossing locations can prevent the number of pedestrians jaywalking, which can result in lesser accidents.
Driving at night can be dangerous and can put the driver, their passengers, and pedestrians at risk. It’s important for roads to be safe and minimize the risks involved with travelling at night, and these are just a few ways to reduce the risks of the road during the night.
