Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Night blindness and driving (self.Blind)
submitted by [deleted]
[deleted]
gunfart 8 points 1y ago
please please please take the safety of others into consideration when it comes to operating a car at night. if you are having difficulty seeing at night or are uncomfortable driving, please do not risk the lives of others just because you want to feel special or independant by driving a car.
think of it this way; if we lived in the same city, i depend on you to see me clearly because i can't see you at all. if neither one of us is able to see one another (and you're in a big steel box and i am a meat popsicle) neither one of us are safe. nowthink of that same scenario, except with *everyone*, and we all know how much pedestrians pay attention in general.
please don't risk the lives of yourself or others!
think of it this way; if we lived in the same city, i depend on you to see me clearly because i can't see you at all. if neither one of us is able to see one another (and you're in a big steel box and i am a meat popsicle) neither one of us are safe. nowthink of that same scenario, except with *everyone*, and we all know how much pedestrians pay attention in general.
please don't risk the lives of yourself or others!
aidan1478 1 points 1y ago
I should clarify - I would never get behind the wheel knowing I could injure someone. Ever. I know my limits on that.
When I’m walking at night it’s streetlights that are spotty especially in areas where the ground has interlocking or is just really crumbled and in poor shape. I don’t drive when I know I absolutely cannot. It’s way too anxiety inducing for me and I could never do that knowing I’d hurt someone.
I’m not trying to come across as harsh or anything, I just wanted to clarify. My concern was more with the walking after driving. I guess a better example could be me driving on a really busy well lit highway, and then parking the car and going for a walk at night with my friend. While I have no issues getting there because of the extensive lighting on the highway, I’d need assistance walking/knowing where stairs are. If that makes sense? I generally avoid night driving altogether.
When I’m walking at night it’s streetlights that are spotty especially in areas where the ground has interlocking or is just really crumbled and in poor shape. I don’t drive when I know I absolutely cannot. It’s way too anxiety inducing for me and I could never do that knowing I’d hurt someone.
I’m not trying to come across as harsh or anything, I just wanted to clarify. My concern was more with the walking after driving. I guess a better example could be me driving on a really busy well lit highway, and then parking the car and going for a walk at night with my friend. While I have no issues getting there because of the extensive lighting on the highway, I’d need assistance walking/knowing where stairs are. If that makes sense? I generally avoid night driving altogether.
razzretina 6 points 1y ago
I don’t have this experience but I do have one friend who drives just fine then gets out of his car and unfolds his cane. He’s never had an issue with it. People aren’t likely to hassle you but they might be curious and have some questions.
GTbuddha 4 points 1y ago
I used to be like you. Drove in the day and used my cane at night.
Then one time when I went to the opthalmologist with my gf, she said he can't see in the dark. The doctor said he couldn't really see any reason that I couldn't see in the dark but that he would order an EERG. It is a test where they put a contact on the front of your eye and it has tiny wires that come off of it. Then they flash different colors of light and different intervals. The contact and the wires are measuring the response from your retina.
After the test the doctor told me that I never need to redo the test. I was outside of the 3rd standard deviation in the wrong direction. They calculated that I can only see about 5% of what a healthy eyed person can see.
I never knew because that's how it had always been.
I no longer drive at all. The doctor was shocked by the results. He kept saying that I rock and ice climb, I mountain bike....
Then one time when I went to the opthalmologist with my gf, she said he can't see in the dark. The doctor said he couldn't really see any reason that I couldn't see in the dark but that he would order an EERG. It is a test where they put a contact on the front of your eye and it has tiny wires that come off of it. Then they flash different colors of light and different intervals. The contact and the wires are measuring the response from your retina.
After the test the doctor told me that I never need to redo the test. I was outside of the 3rd standard deviation in the wrong direction. They calculated that I can only see about 5% of what a healthy eyed person can see.
I never knew because that's how it had always been.
I no longer drive at all. The doctor was shocked by the results. He kept saying that I rock and ice climb, I mountain bike....
aidan1478 1 points 1y ago
I understand the concern. Interesting information about the test though, I appreciate you sharing! I have been cleared though medically, I CHOOSE not to drive at night when I know I’m not okay to or when conditions aren’t right. I know the ‘just because you can doesn’t mean you should’ saying, but trust me when I say this: I am able to and I can. I know my limits. There are times when I can, and I shouldn’t, so I don’t. I make that judgement call daily. As someone who’s friend died in an accident related to distracted driving I would NEVER ever put someone in that position.
Im glad you were able to figure things out with your doctor though! Please don’t take what I’m saying as me being angry I’m just sharing my thoughts and clarifying. I appreciate your response. :)
Im glad you were able to figure things out with your doctor though! Please don’t take what I’m saying as me being angry I’m just sharing my thoughts and clarifying. I appreciate your response. :)
codeplaysleep 2 points 1y ago
Sounds like you're basically saving night time driving for emergencies, in which case, I don't think you should care what people think.
But really, I don't think most people will notice or care. My experience has been that people don't pay nearly as much attention to me as I fear they will.
But really, I don't think most people will notice or care. My experience has been that people don't pay nearly as much attention to me as I fear they will.
Fredchasing475 1 points 1y ago
Just because the department of motor vehicles says it’s OK for you to drive doesn’t make it a good idea. Or safe. Or, depending on where you are, absolve you of liability if you get into a crash or kill someone. If you feel uncomfortable driving at night, did you consider that could be because you don’t see well enough to drive safely?
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