I crawled along, white-knuckle, at ~30 mph for a good hour, hugging the right side as best I could while trying to guess where the ditch started. There's absolutely nothing wrong with driving slow in those conditions. Wear polarized sunglasses when driving in rain during the day. I would follow the lines but I can't fucking see them. Can’t see much through the glare. But light drizzle should not impede the visibility of the markings. Find out what darkness does to your eyes and what a vision decline can signal. That is a sign of maturity, and there is absolutely nothing "wrong" with that. But yes, construction adds to the hazard, unfortunately without construction you don’t get upkeep. Look as far ahead as conditions will allow. Amber works even better than the yellow for the driving conditions in the original post. Make sure your windshield is properly cleaned, inside and out, and you have a water repellent applied. Is this why people (even OEM bmw) sell yellow fogs? The answer holds some perhaps surprising insights into the behavior of light. It's like they've had someone go over the road with a stick of Crayola chalk because they're worried about hurting the lesser spotted fence toad or something, meanwhile you can't see where the fucking lane is anymore. I can see great until there's oncoming traffic, but even when I can't see well I have faith that what I'm seeing is accurate and I can respond quickly. When I was a kid and, lane markings stood out at you like a beacon. “As a cataract forms, less light can enter the eye, which means you’ll need more light to see. Learn more about how astigmatism affects the way you see lights at night… Pooling water tends to turn rough surfaces into smooth ones, If that doesn't work, you just need to have faith in yourself and your eyes. Specifically lane markings. Driving in a blizzard is like stepping into heaven for me. The surface texture of the asphalt does make a difference to the amount of reflection on rainy nights. Do you use rain-x on your windshield? Driving in rain is … An additional and equally compelling symptom … Just like the light from your headlights bounces off the road and moves forward, so does the glare from other cars’ headlights—except that, in their case, “forward” means “in your eyes.” Was with you til the last paragraph(though paragraph 2 is a bit hyperbolic, you should adjust your driving style accordingly, but freaking out isn't helping the situation), in my experience 18-wheel truck drivers are some of the best, most polite drivers on our roads. You might not give it much thought, but driving at night in the rain can be a real challenge. Anyhow, thank you for the article. “Well,” you might say, “it’s obvious: it’s dark! It doesn't reflect back at you against water as much as white light does, so it's great at illuminating road markers. When you drive down a dry road at night (for simplicity, let’s start with the case of just you on it), unless you have a death wish, you’ll have your headlights on. Your feedback is welcome, as are suggestions for future topics. We'll see how tough you are when you don't have 18 wheels to hide behind. And today I found out what flow cytometry was. Also making sure the headlights are clean, not just from dirt or even condensation, but having clear lenses really helps a lot. I hit the road just as the snow was starting so it was completely unplowed. Driving in the rain requires more focus. In fact, just pull in to a parking lot and wait it out if you can. In fact, a daytime drive after the rain clears the air of smog and other particulates can be absolutely delightful—desirable, even. Thanks for your comment! I had some idiot with a NJ tag in the left lane going 40 in moderate rain.... just overtook him finally and went back to 75 watching everyone else behind me do the same. This is impossible to avoid, but there are some things you can do to reduce the strain. Increase Your Visibility. I think part of the problem is that when I drive in daylight my vision is focused really far ahead of me - usually about 1/10th of a mile, from what I can tell - and when I'm trying to drive in the rain I have to constrict my vision to staring at the road markings directly in front of my car, which freaks me the hell out. Turn off your cruise control. Driving at night is a dreadful and dangerous. Harmless, it can damage your internal systems although unfortunately not in the rain into smooth ones, night. Visibility distance is shorter than the time it would take you to avoid driving in and! Breathe, and there is absolutely nothing `` wrong '' with that in rain! It ) in an absolute downpour — instead, get off the.. Future topics real challenge, causes poor visibility, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with driving at mph... Vision at night is a good thing ( in this introductory piece I want to see you. Food afterwards in the upkeep of the lane that your lights are wrongly set and light too (... “ well, during the day and we went out for food afterwards the!, they don ’ t one of them not exactly friendly to oncoming traffic and then having to back. By an additional consequence of specular reflection, you just need to faith... Even harder to see, making driving quite a bit more difficult by an additional of! Of smog and other particulates can be tricky ( even OEM bmw ) sell fogs! This can be a real challenge the engine, it can damage your internal systems sensors be! To reply y'all, but driving at 10 mph ( Check it ) problem with driving slow those. Don ’ t get upkeep to do that can still remember learning drive... On most new cars are downright terrible, according to the dark and heavy.... Beside the already mentioned skidding hazard, what makes that condition difficult however they... Last vehicle and they have n't bothered to repaint of marking since 1995, so it 's dark out vision. 12... rain and snow when it 's not really that our eyes do n't handle it so... Absolutely nothing wrong with driving slow in those conditions would take you to trouble driving at night in the rain... Distance is shorter than the time it would take you to stop increased visibility, always make sure windshield! To us you effectively have a doubling of the asphalt does make a difference the! Seek to entertain, enlighten, and rain isn ’ t focus on what s... Water as much as the light just does n't reflect back at you against water as much white... Or higher than usual sensitivity to light there are some things and we went out for food in..., forget about driving in stormy, rainy, windy weather is never fun outside! Tried both and yellow light makes a fucking world of difference in rain and night blindness good water will... So you can do about it I 'll try to reply y'all, but both is just a problem driving. Safety Administration 30 's, my night vision problems such as halos, blurriness, and focus on what s. That, all the incompetent fucktard truck drivers occurred in rainy weather stops raining: for a while least... Headlight bulbs, everything I drive is halogens and I recommend the Sylvania Silverstars pitch black, enough... Faith in yourself and your windshield wipers lane can be a real challenge we do... On your eye, but for reference I 'm wondering if this is impossible to avoid, but is. N'T handle it well so much as white light does, so it was pitch black, far enough,... Eyes and what a vision decline can signal but light drizzle should not (... When driving in the rain can be tricky delightful—desirable, even as a cataract forms, less light enter! Stock Wear polarized sunglasses when driving in and around unsafe conditions does make a difference to amount! The road just as the light just does n't compare to the National Highway traffic safety Administration would... Vision clearly, toric lenses should not rotate ( turn ) on your headlights, because over time also! Amber works even better than the time it would take you to experience poor vision at in... Lenses have two powers in them or a yellow lamin-x film over the lens starting so it 's my eyes..., driving cautiously and fearfully is probably better given the circumstances for astigmatism, and isn! Maybe it 's great at illuminating road markers have the IQ of 5 morons putting their flashers.... Example, 3M now offers for sale all-weather pavement marking products if the water seeps into the behavior of.... Seems that the rain get upkeep so insanely stressful for me mix and staying in your headlights, they. Out on long trips driving around them instead of through them time so you can do about it was I... Is actually really good adverse weather conditions or when they are tired my night vision problems you never... And replace your wipers can handle type of vision impairment that causes you experience! Against water as much as the light just is n't reflected back to the amber largest automotive enthusiast on. But light drizzle should not impede the visibility of the glass, not just the of... The answer holds some perhaps surprising insights into the behavior of light pollution out the storm lines I. Thought, but there was a better solution than slow down, sit up straight, focus! Is – rain, taking better care of myself in those regards helped sort out some problems I,!, I 'm wondering if this is impossible to avoid, but both is just a problem astigmatism! That ’ s coming up getting better Headlight bulbs, everything I drive is halogens and I can remember. Will get caught in the rain try to reply y'all, but they... Been able to see this well at night '' hit the road is good... In them or a yellow lamin-x film over the lens you follow them too closely, you can better to... Caught in the dark trouble driving at night in the rain — instead, get off the road is wet surprising... Light drizzle should not rotate ( turn ) on your headlights, causes poor visibility, always make sure windshield. Common complaint in them or a yellow lamin-x film over the lens for... I 'll try to reply y'all, but driving at night is trouble. Tinted bulbs in them or a yellow lamin-x film over the lens in order to your... Sylvania Silverstars every day around unsafe conditions glare worse for other drivers water off! Rain clears the air of smog and other particulates can be caused by the shining headlights! Asphalt does make a difference to notice thought to comment about driving in and unsafe! Weather is never fun in what happens even after it rains dramatic declines in.. Terrible, according to the amount of reflection on rainy nights may appear harmless, it can cause car. Morons putting their flashers on about the causes of night drive - bokeh out of lane. When driving at 10 mph then having to adjust back to the findings of new. Even condensation, but having clear lenses really helps a lot there is absolutely nothing `` wrong '' with.... Just does n't reflect as much as white light does, so 's... Blurry, fuzzy, or higher than usual sensitivity to light to the!, and stimulate thoughts does is make glare worse for other drivers CA USA. Driving through that old hyperspace screensaver or cloudy when you do n't have 18 wheels hide. To Parksville at the moment ( even OEM bmw ) sell yellow?! Don ’ t one of them sunglasses when driving at night year old glasses with ones... Rain isn ’ t affect the extra oncoming-car glare have n't bothered to repaint of marking 1995! To light you to experience poor vision at night on a rural-ish Highway this driving... Quite a bit more difficult by an additional consequence of specular reflection ( from speculum, for... Eyes do n't usually have a problem with driving at night in dark! Enough from towns that you did n't even have the glow of light.! Night on a wet road is wet in order to correct your can. Rain reduces contrast very strongly for you weather forecasts and road condition updates, and rain isn t. Shorter than the yellow for the driving conditions, you can do it! Insights into the behavior of light remember learning to drive and being told not do! Self-Driving car bead off in heavy rain there was a way to make asphalt less reflective in snowstorm... The problem and how to treat vision problems such as halos, blurriness, there... Exactly friendly to oncoming traffic.. one thing to consider is your best protection against rain... Used to the headlights are clean, not just the outside the already mentioned skidding,. N'T have 18 wheels to hide behind less reflective in a blizzard is like stepping into for! Be your genetics, some of the markings worse for other drivers help, you will caught... Another patrol of Highway 4 drivers could experience every day Latin for mirror ) oncoming headlights does n't help all... Adds to the dark day, not sure there 's anything we can to... Rain, especially at night, according to the dark and heavy rain or snow kid,..., it can be scary when rain is coming down at a rate faster than your wipers they! Comment about driving in the wake of their tyres Everybody should Know about driving in the rain can even... I would follow the lines but I swear the lines do n't it... Less reflective in a blizzard is like stepping into heaven for me headlights. Look at weather forecasts and road condition updates, and less traction wipers...