For several years, a roadway lighting policy has been observed by the Redding City in California. The Public Works Department required roadway lighting; street lights were placed in new subdivisions, on existing wood poles and especially in intersections to reduce the rising percentage of car accidents at night. When these happen, Redding lawyers investigate if there was any lighting in the place where the unfortunate happened, as well as for visual obstructions that caused the accident. These lawyers then recreate the scene of the accident that lead up to the collision hence, the importance of this requirement.
Studies show that car accidents occur more at night than on day. Reckless driving, drunk driving, drowsiness, and driving in dark roads almost double the risk of car accidents. Since drivers are not able to catch a glimpse of what’s ahead of them, they don’t know what to expect as they drive towards it.

A perfect vision of 20/20 becomes reduced to 20/50 at night. Human eyes are made of microscopic irregularities which deform the light when entering the eyes. The distortion reduces visibility, along with night-time glare and poor weather conditions such as heavy rains and snow.
Eye problems due to old age like cataract and presbyopia are one of the causes of accidents at night. Our eyesight deteriorates as we age thus; night driving is not advisable for elderly people unless needed. Elderly drivers should even be more cautious.

A regular visit to an optometrist and/or an ophthalmologist to have your eyes checked is always advisable, especially when you drive more at night than on day.

Below is a short list of guidelines to avoid car accidents during nighttime:

Wearing sunglasses
- Wearing a pair of these glasses during the day when the sun is very bright reduces your eyes’ sensitivity when driving at night or even in dark areas.

Clean windshield and windows
- Always keep your windshield and windows clean to better see other cars, and for other drivers to see you better.

Check your headlights
- Check the lights on your car, especially the headlights which should be pointing towards the road, not towards the left or right.

Side mirrors
- Side mirrors should be angled in such a way that you can clearly see the road and the vehicles that are behind you.

Staring towards the lights
- Never stare on oncoming headlights but on the edges of oncoming traffic instead. This will lessen the chances of you squinting.

Proper distance
- You should allow enough distance between you and the car in front of you. A safe distance is always needed to avoid bumping.

Attentiveness
- Be mindful of all the vehicles – front, back, and on both sides.

Stay away from distractions
- Do not text or call on your mobile phones while driving. Avoiding other distractions such as iPad’s, laptops or mp3’s players will help you focus on the road as well.

Sleep before driving
- Don’t drive when tired or sleepy. Take a power nap before heading to the road.

Drunk driving
- Don’t drive after drinking in a party. Drinking and driving should never come together.
The best thing to do if the accident happens to you, a friend or a relative is to seek legal advice immediately; more so if the accident wasn’t your fault. This is to refrain from gambling away when dealing with insurance companies, especially if you or the persons involved know nothing about the legal process.