Mar 2016 29

Four Tips For Maintaining Proper Visibility

You may notice the days getting longer as we head into the summer now that daylight savings time has passed. However, even with the extra hours of daylight driving it is still important to make sure that your vehicle’s lights are always working properly so that when you do have to travel at night you will not be left completely in the dark. Here we have a list of four important lighting tips from Car Care that you should keep in mind to ensure that your vehicle’s lights are working properly.

Don’t Overdrive Your Headlights: When you are traveling it is always important to make sure that you have a safe stopping distance, especially when you are driving in the dark. Remember to adjust your speed so that your stopping distance stays within the area covered by the beam of light from your headlights.

When In Doubt Turn Lights On: Having a little extra visibility is always better than not having enough. If you are unsure whether the conditions require your lights to be on it is best to use them anyway just to play it safe.

Keep Headlights Properly Aimed: Misaligned headlights can cause visibility problems for you as well as the other drivers on the road so be sure to check to see that they are aimed properly for ideal visibility.

Keep Your Lights Clean: Any amount of dirt or grime that is covering your headlights or taillights can cause visibility to be reduced. So make sure to keep them clean and uncovered to not only help you see better but to also help other drivers see you better.

“Lights play a critical role in safe driving, as the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “From the driver’s seat you may not notice a light that isn’t working, so inspect all of your car’s lights and replace those that are out.”

“Lights Out? Check Vehicle Lighting.” Carecare.org. N.p., 13 Oct. 2015. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carcare.org%2F2015%2F10%2Flights-check-vehicle-lighting%2F>.