With more vehicles on the roads during the busy summer travel season, it becomes more important to drive smart and safe - especially at night.

According to the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council, traffic death rates are three times greater at night, yet many drivers are unaware of the hazards that night driving poses or effective ways to handle them.

Xenon lighting - which puts up to twice as much light on the road - and Adaptive Front Lighting systems - which automatically modify the beam pattern in response to various speed, weather and road conditions - are two advanced technologies that improve nighttime safety. Each makes it easier for drivers to see roadside obstacles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
The MVLC also offers the following nighttime safety tips for motorists:

• 1. Turn your headlights on one hour before sunset and keep your headlights on at least one hour after sunrise. Refrain from flashing your high beams at a vehicle with its high beams on; this will only increase the chance that two drivers will not be able to see.
• 2. Make sure all exterior vehicle lights work properly, including your emergency flashers.
• 3. To avoid glare, look toward the right side of the road (instead of oncoming headlights) and watch the white line marking the outside edge of the traffic lane. Use the "day-night" feature on the rearview mirror or adjust your mirror to reduce glare from vehicles behind you.
• 4. Keep all windows and headlights clean. Dirty windows can increase glare for a driver, while dirty headlights can reduce efficiency by as much as 90 percent.
• 5. Look for flashes of light at hilltops, curves and intersections that may indicate the headlights of other vehicles.
• 6. Increase your following distance by four to five seconds, making it easier to spot potential problems on and along the roadway and give you more time to respond.
• 7. Reduce your speed to minimize the dangers associated with decreased visibility.
• 8. Prevent fatigue. Ensure good ventilation inside the vehicle and take frequent refreshment breaks to give your eyes a chance to recover.
• 9. Align your headlights correctly to help you see the road better and to help other drivers avoid glare.
• 10. Have your vision checked regularly.

For nighttime driving tips and information on lighting technologies, go to the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council's Web site at www.mvlc.info.