What is the effect of night driving on depth perception?

Night driving can significantly reduce depth perception due to several factors related to lighting conditions and visual acuity. During nighttime, the amount of available light is drastically decreased, which can lead to difficulties in distinguishing distances accurately. The human eye relies on contrast and light to gauge how far away objects are; thus, in the dark, this ability is compromised.

Additionally, glare from oncoming headlights can further distort visual cues, making it even harder to correctly perceive distances. This decrease in depth perception can impact a driver’s ability to judge the speed of oncoming vehicles and their own distance relative to other objects on the road.

While some might believe that night vision technology or headlights could enhance clarity, the inherent limitations of human vision in low-light conditions lead to a natural reduction in depth perception during night driving.