How Night Driving Affects Insurance Risk and Coverage?

Night driving greatly increases the risk of road accidents, and consequently, your car insurance premiums and coverage. Insurers view night driving as high-risk since visibility is poor, the driver may be tired, and reckless acts such as drunk driving are more likely to happen. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 49% of fatal crashes take place at night, though just 25% of driving occurs during this time. Due to this, regular night driving could result in increased insurance premiums or more onerous policy conditions.

Let us learn about how night driving affects insurance risk and how you can remain covered while keeping premiums in check.

Night driving is more risky than daylight driving, directly impacting how insurance companies assess risk and quote premiums. Although travel during night time is only 25%, close to 49% of all fatal crashes occur after dark (according to NHTSA).

Insurance companies take this into account when calculating premiums, particularly if your policy involves telematics to monitor when and where you are driving

The following are the main reasons why night driving increases your insurance risk:

1. Fatigue and Slower Reaction Time-Nighttime drivers are more susceptible to fatigue, especially between midnight and 6 AM. Fatigue makes one less alert and slow in reaction, raising the risk of accidents. For instance, long-distance or night shift workers who drive home late. Insurers consider this to be high-risk exposure on a regular basis and may retain part of the premium for such profiles.
 

2. Poor Visibility and Depth Perception-Low light levels increase the difficulty of spotting hazards, reading road signs, and gauging the speed or proximity of other vehicles. Drivers can fail to notice abrupt obstacles such as animals, potholes, or stranded vehicles. This is particularly vital on highways and dimly lit rural roads.
 

3. Headlight Glare-Approaching high beams can momentarily blind motorists, leading to distraction and slowed reactions. When a driver is already experiencing impaired night vision or eye strain, the likelihood of changing the road or rear-end crashes increases sharply.
 

4. Drunk or Impaired Driving-Night time witnesses more impaired driving. Research indicates that nearly 70% of alcohol-related fatalities caused by drunken driving happen at night time. Since alcohol has a considerable impact on coordination and judgment, insurers consider night time to be more accident-prone, and frequent driving during these hours may trigger higher risk ratings.
 

5. Speeding on Empty Roads-With fewer vehicles on the road, drivers are more likely to accelerate, believing that they are safer. However, speeding reduces reaction time to emergencies, and the consequences of accidents will be more severe. Speed accidents are among the most frequently used measures by insurers when they re-price risk.

Let us take an example to understand how insurance premium is affected based on night driving.

Consider the case of Akshay, a software developer who drives back home frequently late at night. When he opted for a telematics-based policy, his insurer could identify risky behavior in the form of frequent late-night drives and speeding. 

His renewal premium was thus raised by 15%. As soon as Akshay altered his pattern to reduce unnecessary late-night drives, his premium was brought down to a lower level the following year.

Even if you cannot stay away from night driving, these measures can reduce risk and enhance your insurance status. Here are a few ways to reduce risks of night driving to help reduce the insurance premium:

1. Improve Visibility

2. Manage Distance and Speed

3. Reduce Glare

4. Stay Alert and Well-Rested

5.Choose the Right Insurance Add-ons

Night driving causes accidents, which raises your insurance risk. Insurance policies do cover nighttime accidents, but frequent late-night driving can increase premiums. Using telematics, insurers can track when you are driving and adjust rates accordingly. 

To stay safe and have an affordable premium rate, avoid trips during late night as much as possible. Make sure to check the details of your policy and also inquire with the insurer about how night driving habits can impact your coverage.