Night Driving Question For Our LEO's

[Redtbird]

When driving at night, our eyes dilate to let in more light. Then, when the lights of an oncoming car hits us, the pupil tries to contract, causing the pain we feel.

I discovered something on a long road trip to visit my kids in Massachusetts a few years ago. If you leave a light on inside the car, the pupils don't contract as much, and thusly, you don't get the eye pain when meeting another vehicle. The light could be the dome light, the lighted vanity mirrors or maybe a reading light.

Someone I told this technique to told me they thought it was illegal to have a light on inside the car while driving at night.

So, Officers, what say you? Legal and okay? Illegal and I'm going to be in big trouble? Or...?

Thanks for the info!

Redtbird

 

[hoosierdoc]

Turn up your dash light. That's why movie theaters have some light in them all the time. Stops the quick pupil change with scene changes. You probably have less vision when looking from a bright environment to a dark one, so driving all the time with interior lights on the save some discomfort when a car passed is probably not wise

 

[jsharmon7]

Legal.

EDIT: I find it difficult to see out of the vehicle with the dome light on, but if it works for then go for it. I've never seen anything in IN law that regulates dome lights in any way.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Too many reflections on the inside of the car glass for me.

How old are you, OP?

One thing I've noticed as I've aged is that oncoming car headlight lights cause me much more discomfort now than they ever have.

-J-

 

[jfed85]

I'm usually too busy texting or facebooking to even notice oncoming headlights.













Purple where you see fit

 

[lovemachine]

I have found that wearing glasses have helped me with my night driving.

I don't require wearing glasses in the day though.

 

[eric001]

Amber colored glasses also help cut the glare and relieve eye strain. Not supporting the cheesy commercials that occasionally pop up on TV saying they have the ultimate and only solution for eye problems--pretty much any amber sunglasses will help. And you won't destroy your ability to clearly see details that might make the difference between having a wreck and a safe drive.

 

[jsharmon7]

I'm usually too busy texting or facebooking to even notice oncoming headlights.

Purple where you see fit

Having passengers is helpful in this regard. Usually they yell so loudly and lunge for the steering wheel that it's the perfect early warning system.

 

[remauto1187]

Limo tint on the windshield and maybe if needed on all side windows also. Dont forget to pimp some rims and you GOTTA have some big thumpin subs that wake people up blocks away at 1:30a.m. !

 

[Cameramonkey]

I just use the "watch the right lane line/edge of the road immediately in front of your car until the car with bright lights is behind you" trick. Your peripheral vision still picks up stuff in your lane and your night vision isnt impacted too much. I may also hold up my hand at the same time to shield me if they are a moron runnign with his brights on.

I too cant see much outside due to glare if an inside light is on.

 

[Gabriel]

I wear my sunglasses at night.

 

[gunsisgood]

Quite often I raise my left hand to cover the oncoming vehicles headlights while watching the right side edge of the road, probably not the safest thing but some cars and especially trucks have really bright lights.

 

[Brandon]

BMW has red lights in the ceiling and doors and other areas that light up when the park/head lights are turned on. Helps for night time driving.

I wish school buses had such features or just a little lamp somewhere down low so I can read my route sheets without having to turn on one or multiple dome lights.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I wear my sunglasses at night.

We are NOT going to let this '80s moment pass without hearing from Mr. Hart!

Corey Hart - Sunglasses At Night - YouTube

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Someone I told this technique to told me they thought it was illegal to have a light on inside the car while driving at night.

Did they give you a citation?

 

[MrsGungho]

I just use the "watch the right lane line/edge of the road immediately in front of your car until the car with bright lights is behind you" trick. Your peripheral vision still picks up stuff in your lane and your night vision isnt impacted too much. I may also hold up my hand at the same time to shield me if they are a moron runnign with his brights on.

I too cant see much outside due to glare if an inside light is on.

this is what I do.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

I used to yell at the kids for using flash cameras on the bus. You get spots. Sometimes one would want the dome light on, to find something or whatnot, but I'd turn it off as soon as possible. The less light from inside, the better.

 

[stephen87]

Change a light bulb or two to a red light. It helps tons.

 

[sepe]

Having passengers is helpful in this regard. Usually they yell so loudly and lunge for the steering wheel that it's the perfect early warning system.

What if your passengers are more intoxicated than you? That makes the early warning system no bueno.

 

[A_Brit_In_Indy]

My driving instructor always told me to look to the left (when I used to drive in England) So look to the right and you should be fine