Why Older Drivers Might Feel Anxious at Night

I think most of us find the time changes in the Spring and Fall confusing.  Which one gives the extra hour of sleep?  Oops, I was early or late for my meeting or church because I forgot about the time change.  Thankfully, our phones and other electronic devices update automatically.  I only have to update the clock on my stove, microwave, and my Jeep.

As someone who struggles with driving in the dark, I have a different perspective on time changes.  It is fall right now and the sun is rising around 7 AM instead of closer to 8 AM.  This has made going into the Columbus office easier for me.  The downside is that it is dark by 6 PM. Aside from feeling like I want to go to bed after dinner, it is challenging if or when I want or need to do something in the evening.

I was telling someone that I wish we could strike a happy medium when it comes to sunrise and sunset.  For me, it would be ideal if the sun rises at 7 AM and does not set until after 8:30 PM for those rare times I want to go out.

I found an article from AARP that I will link in the resources at the bottom of this post; it is worth reading if you're getting older or if you are dealing with aging parents or grandparents and wonder why on earth they want to go to dinner at 4 PM.  

According to the article, around half of fatal car crashes happen in the dark with fatigue and alcohol consumption being added to the mix.  However, vision plays a bigger role because our eyes change as we get older.  I know I see considerably better in daylight than I do at night and that is because night vision becomes less acute as we age.  The darker is it, the more challenges we have such as seeing objects along side the road; out where I live that would be deer.  The darkness challenges our ability to determine how fast objects such as other cars, pedestrians, or deer are moving combined with slower reaction time as we get older and the unfortunate result can be a crash.

At 52 years old, I've faced my fair share of driving challenges, particularly when it comes to navigating the roads at night. The difficulty of driving in the dark is something I have become very familiar with over the years. While I understand that age brings changes to our vision, the glare from oncoming headlights is especially bothersome for me. This glare can feel overwhelming at times, making it hard to see clearly.

As we grow older, our sensitivity to glare tends to increase. This heightened sensitivity can be distracting and, in some cases, blinding. It not only affects our ability to see but also slows our reaction time when driving. The combination of these factors can make nighttime driving particularly risky.

Recently, I came across an interesting article from AARP discussing "adaptive driving beam" lights. These lights are already being used in various parts of the world and have shown promising results. They adjust the beams based on oncoming traffic and road conditions, reducing the glare that can be so troubling for many drivers.

As someone who often struggles with intense LED headlights from other vehicles, the idea of adaptive beams sounds incredibly appealing. Such technology could greatly improve nighttime visibility and safety for drivers like me. It’s refreshing to think that advancements in automotive lighting could help reduce the challenges we face as we age.

What prompted me to write about driving in the dark?  I received a text from a friend saying that I should attend an evening function. Driving in the dark plus the fatigue I'm experiencing related to the start of menopause would be unwise.

Resources:

AARP Driver Safety Nighttime Driving

Ryan Robinson Blogging Tools

Freepix