I just experienced a white-knuckle, nerve-jarring, frightening drive from West Hollywood to Palms. The rain, which had been coming down in buckets, had mostly eased off, but the roads were shiny and dark. In most places I couldn’t see the lane markings at alll, and could only orient myself by the lights of the car ahead of me.
I’m almost 51, and to complicate things, there are one or two meds I’m on that could be affecting my vision. But it seems to me it’s become more difficult to see the road under conditions like these. I also seem to remember that most of the arterial roads in L.A. used to have reflective paint marking the lanes, and actual bicycle type reflectors marking them as well. Do they not paint the lanes as much as they used to?
I do know that the freeway signage is being allowed to slip. I was shocked to see, when recently driving from Whittier to West L.A. at night, that some of signs aren’t lighted, including one important one that tells you where to veer off to get on the 10. I nearly missed that one.
[Disclaimer]Put in IMHO because I expect to read different experiences. If that was the wrong decision please move as you see fit.[/D]
Oh, I hear ya, loud and clear! I have noticed just in the last year that it is very, very hard for me to drive under those circumstances. I actually just got home, and it’s misty and damp out (38 degrees, for Pete’s sake, not that I am complaining). There are a couple of stretches on my route home from Madison - rural - that I just have to hold on to the wheel real tight and pray. Having my fog lights on helps, but I don’t like to do that if someone is in front of me or coming toward me.
I am 50 in three weeks, so maybe it is some kind of degeneration? I also have wondered if it isn’t my glasses.
I used to think that I had definite night vision problems. But recently I have discovered that in the cab of the vehicle there is a switch that turns on lights that are mounted on the front of the vehicle.
I’m young (23) and I was pretty tense when I had to drive to take my exam last night and it was absolutely pouring. It’s been a while since we’ve seen this much rain in SoCal. The traffic’s bad enough on a clear night, but when it’s just a torrential downpour like it’s been, damn. So it’s not just you.
I think they were wrong about us getting another La Nina influenced, dry winter. Unfortunately you might be too young to recall if the roads used to be better marked. IIRC there used to be yellow cat’s-eye markers even in the side streets, because people used to wonder about the occasional blue ones, until learning that they were there to show where the fire hydrants are.
I’ve noticed in good weather areas of CA that they pretty much never get around to keeping up the paint on the road lines, and this makes it much harder to drive in bad weather in less- or unlit areas. After a few years the lines no longer reflect light well, but look fine in the daytime.
<I did go to an optometrist once b/c I was having headaches and was told: Your vision is ok, if not for the headaches, I’d not prescribe anything at all. I basically got a zero prescription that helped me focus.>
And that was like 25 years ago…blah blah.
But! I really do have crap night vision as far as driving goes. I try not to drive at night. In places I know, I’m pretty ok.
Out just in the dark? My pupils have time to adjust, and there I’m ok. But the combo of headlights, dark roads, and high beams makes my eyes water hard.
I will just pull over in rain at night and give up.
My mom, who’s legally blind without her glasses, is a horrible night driver. And if it’s raining? We do our damndest to keep her off the road. I remember about a year ago she was driving and it was late and raining. And she was SO tense I finally asked what was wrong. She then informs me she can’t see a thing and is only following the lights of the car in front of her. Wow…that was the last time I let her do that. I don’t have the best night vision but I can see the freaking road!
If you wear glasses, having the exact right, up-to-date prescription, clean lenses and having anti-reflective coating can make a huge difference in night driving. The first pair of new glasses I bought after getting my license was a revelation because I had waited a long time since the last ones and I don’t think my previous ones had the AR coating. Night driving became easy. Things were so sharp and clear, that it looked like a video game or something at first.
I went to the same place for the following pair, and for some reason they aren’t as good at night; I even had them re-do the lenses which didn’t help so I gave up. I don’t know why they couldn’t make them as good as the first, but next time I’m going to try another place. In the meantime, night driving has been a bit of a struggle.
Also, having an old pitted windshield (or a dirty one) doesn’t help.
My optometrist told me just this week that I was having trouble driving in the rain at night because of smoke. I told him that I had quit smoking. He said, “I mean the smoke from the candles on your birthday cake.” I am 65. My optometrist is a favorite cousin who can get away with that.
At any rate, apparently this is a problem that is age related.
Well I’m 34 with good vision and I don’t like driving in cities at night in the rain. Like you say, lane markings can be very difficult to see and if you are unfamiliar with the area it can get a bit tense.
I suddenly started to need glasses in my forties. I now wear tri-focals and my vision is fine day and night except when it gets rainy at night. I have basically stopped driving anywhere in the rain at night if it is just for elective recreational stuff. For a birthday or engagement party I may make the effort, for Wednesday night trivia at the Roxy, “see you next week.”