Night Driving — Tips To Stay Focused

Thursday, October 07, 2004

ROCHESTER, Minn. — As you age, you may have increased difficulty seeing at night. It might be harder to focus or adjust to glare. Depth perception, color recognition and peripheral vision just aren't as accurate after sundown.

The October issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers several measures to minimize the difficulty of driving at night.

Keep windshield and headlights clean. Make sure headlights are properly aimed.

Reduce your speed and increase your following distance.

Try to stick with well-lit roads. If you must drive on dark roads, don't overdrive your headlights.

Avoid glare from oncoming headlights by focusing on the right edge of the road as a steering guide.

Allow cars behind you to pass if you're bothered by glare from their headlights.

Ask your eye care provider about anti-reflective coatings for glasses.

Have your vision checked regularly. Difficulty with night vision could be a sign of eye problems, such as cataracts.

If night driving becomes too difficult, limit your driving to daylight hours.

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville - Erik Kaldor 904-953-2299

Mayo Clinic Scottsdale - Anne Tewksbury 480-301-436

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