People Avoid Driving at Night

Unsurprising, we know... A new study, commissioned by automotive lighting supplier Sylvania and conducted by KRC Research has found that a little over half of the American citizens licensed to drive would rather not leave behind the wheel of their car at night. The reason: darkness.

According to the study, most of those who don't like to drive at night are under the age of 55. The reason is simple: despite the fact that, at least in theory, the vision of a younger human is better than the one of an older individual, it still can't penetrate darkness. The fact that the most of the current lighting systems on cars do an average job at revealing the road ahead only adds to the lack of courage many experience when it comes to driving in the night.

"That's 37 million people that won't drive at night. And this isn't limited to just older drivers,” said Joe Verbanic, Sylvania marketing manager. “Half are under the age of 55. Driving at night is a stressful and uncomfortable experience for way too many of us.”

The automotive lighting industry is caught in between the proverbial rock and a very hard place. Providing a powerful bulb will help the driver whose car wears it, but it will increase the chances of the drivers from the incoming traffic experiencing what is known as the Troxler fading effect.

“Most individuals aren't aware that headlights dim over time or that there are varying levels of technology that allow for better visibility," added Verbanic.