When I’m driving in the day, why does it feel like I’m going 35 mph when I’m going 50, but at night it’ll feel like I’m going 45 mph but I’m only going 35?

Question

Or is this just me?

In: Other

Answer 1

I get this too.

My only thought on it is light.

When everything is lit up during the day we really have no reference points for differences. For example, at night you see headlights off at a distance and it takes FOREVER for the car to get to you. They can be doing 65 in a 25 and you’ll still perceive them as going slow. You have nothing else to reference it to because it’s the only light source.

If you’re driving and your lights reflect on a sign, the sign gets brighter and brighter; but the brightness speeds up until it seems to instantly pass by. But if you pass by that same sign during the day, ho hum, everything is consistent.

I think the luminescence of objects around us give us a different reference of time and distance.