2023-11-27 17:55:01
During the coldest months of the year, rain, wind or snow represent an added difficulty, to which are added the fewer hours of daylight due to the position of the Earth with respect to the Sun. Therefore, it is advisable to take extreme precautions, plan the route and an extra dose of prudence and common sense to arrive safely at the destination.
According to data from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) 31% of the deaths correspond to accidents that occurred during the winter, and slightly less, 30%, to hospitalized injured people.
The majority of accidents, 80%, take place in rainy conditions, which during the winters of 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 caused 11,655 accidents with victims. Far behind are those that occurred in fog situations, which accounted for just over 7% and about 1,000 accidents; strong wind (5.54% and 808) and hail (4.7% and 693). Strikingly, snow only played a determining role in just 2.09% of the accidents, causing 308 crashes with victims, including injuries and deaths recorded during the 30 days after the crash.
Apart from the weather conditions, the lack of light makes driving more complicated. In fact, according to the latest edition of the Vision Study in Spain, 42% of people who have myopia and 30% of those who have astigmatism feel more limited when driving at night. Lack of visibility, glare, fatigue and sleep and situations such as overtaking, driving on urban roads or “road hypnosis” are some of the main risks we encounter when driving at night.
The main limitations when driving at night is the lack of light, which can considerably reduce visual acuity, color perception and a decrease in the visual field. “The alteration of night vision can make it less clear, cause us to be dazzled by street lights or other vehicles, and cause problems such as eye fatigue,” emphasizes Dr. Fernando Llovet, ophthalmologist and co-founder of Bavaria Clinic. In this sense, the DGT recommends always keeping the height of the lights well regulated and being careful to change the lights from high to low when crossing other vehicles.
One of the problems that usually manifests itself at night in most people, whether they are nearsighted or not, is nocturnal myopia. «In these cases there is an imbalance in the accommodation of the lens to see details which, due to the low light, causes distant objects to be blurred, which generates insecurity, especially when driving. But it only occurs in low lighting conditions and not due to a visual problem,” says Dr. Llovet. In these cases, the best solution known to correct nocturnal myopia is usually the use of glasses or contact lenses suitable for driving in these types of situations.
Another visual problem that can appear at night is night blindness or nyctalopia, a vision problem that occurs when, due to a lack or low amount of light, it is impossible for the patient to see what is around them. «Although it is natural that in low light conditions we see less, people who have night blindness usually have difficulties carrying out normal activities and functioning in situations with low lighting, not only for driving, but, for example, in living rooms. cinema, poorly lit entertainment venues, closed spaces without natural lighting, etc.,” Llovet emphasizes. Some conditions that can promote night blindness are myopia, cataracts, vitamin A deficiency, the use of certain medications, retinitis pigmentosa or congenital anomalies.
How to improve night vision
Although there is no specific treatment to improve night vision, ophthalmologists recommend following some tips that can help improve it.
Thus, it is recommended to take enough vitamin A, as it helps stop the loss of visual acuity caused by aging and protects the retina from possible diseases. Some foods rich in vitamin A are carrots or spinach.
Wearing red glasses before entering a dimly lit environment helps your eyes adapt to the darkness progressively. It is also advisable to avoid looking directly at light sources, keep your eyes moving and blink frequently, avoid alcohol and tobacco consumption, and control underlying diseases such as diabetes or retinitis pigmentosa, which may compromise vision.
Finally, it is recommended to rest your eyes and check your eyesight periodically: above all, it will be necessary to go to the ophthalmologist if you notice problems related to night blindness.
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