JACKSONVILLE, Fla., As millions of Americans prepare to set the clocks back an hour on November 4 and see fewer hours of daylight, findings from a new survey raise concerns for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians about what people may not be seeing while driving in the dark. Of further concern, while most believe that correcting their vision problems would improve their ability to drive in low-light conditions, many have never talked to an eye care professional about treatment options.
Nearly one of every three drivers on the road (32 percent) say they have difficulty seeing all or most of the time while driving in the dark according to Shedding Light on Driving in the Dark, a nationwide survey conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of Road & Travel Magazine and ACUVUE(R) Brand Contact Lenses. More than one-fourth (26 percent) report that they have trouble seeing signs or exits; one-fifth (20 percent) acknowledge difficulty seeing animals or pedestrians, and one-fifth (20 percent) also have difficulty with seeing turns in the road. More than one in five (22 percent) also report problems in judging distance while driving in the dark.
A total of 515 vision-corrected Americans aged 18 and over participated in the survey. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of respondents expressed concern and a lack of confidence about their driving skills in the dark. Vision problems and discomfort also leave them feeling concerned (24 percent) and unsafe (21 percent) behind the wheel.
"Driving in the dark is one of the most hazardous situations faced by a driver," says Courtney Caldwell, founder and editor-in-chief of Road & Travel Magazine. "Roads with low or no lighting, glare from headlights, and fluctuations in vision are contributing factors to the disproportionately high rate of car accidents and fatalities that occur between dusk and dawn." Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council site the fatality rate at nighttime (6:00 P.M. - 6:00 A.M.) to be three times higher than the daytime rate.
Respondents complained of eyestrain (38 percent), dry or tired eyes (34 percent), fatigue (25 percent), headaches (19 percent), inability to focus (18 percent) and double or blurred vision (15 percent) while driving in the dark. More than six in ten (61 percent) say that headlights from oncoming traffic or from cars behind them are particularly bothersome, and nearly half (48 percent) report experiencing glare or light sensitivity while driving in the dark.
"Low light levels cause an eye's pupil to dilate, which can accentuate any existing focusing problems and result in blurred vision," explains Dr. Elise Brisco, a Los Angeles based optometrist. "This is particularly common among people with astigmatism because the shape of the cornea prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, often leading to blurred vision, which can impair a driver's speed of visual reaction time and affect the ability to quickly identify and localize possible hazards on the road."
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