Night Driving and Extreme Conditions
Night driving and extreme conditions test visibility, glare management, fatigue awareness, and traction. Maine adds moose, ice, and long rural stretches where help is far away.
Night
Use low beams when following or meeting traffic, and do not overdrive your headlights. Low beams show roughly 160 feet; at 55 mph you need about 400 feet to stop, so slow down. Look toward the right edge of your lane when an oncoming driver's lights glare. Dim the dash. Fatigue is a hazard: if you are nodding, stop and rest; caffeine is not a substitute for sleep.
Extreme weather
In fog, use low beams and slow down; high beams reflect back. On ice, make no sudden moves - gentle steering, gentle braking, gentle acceleration. Carry chains and know how to install them. In high wind, grip the wheel, slow down, and watch for blown-over trucks and empty trailers. In heat, check tire pressure and watch for overheated brakes.
Maine-specific
Moose are tall and dark, and their eyes are above the height your headlights illuminate, so eyeshine may not appear. Their bodies sit at windshield height. In moose country, reduce night speed and scan the shoulders.
Worked example
At 55 mph you cover 80 feet per second; low beams show 160 feet, giving about two seconds of warning. To stop within the lit distance, you need to slow to roughly 25–30 mph. That is the logic behind driving at a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see.
Traps
High beams in fog; cruise control on ice; overdriving headlights; and assuming eyeshine will reveal a moose.