Anyone who has ever driven at night or in poor weather knows that frightening feeling that accompanies low visibility. When you can't clearly see road obstacles, or when other drivers can't see you, you can easily get into a devastating collision. Your headlights, therefore, serve a crucial role in protecting everyone involved.
Even if you've equipped your car with two functioning headlights, those headlights can still raise your accident risk if they don't operate at full efficiency. A variety of problems can prevent your headlights from doing their job. Keep the following four key facts in mind about the important relationship between headlights and auto accidents.
1. Constant Headlight Use Reduces Accident Risk
You probably switch your headlights on by instinct whenever you drive at night (if your car doesn't automatically perform this task for you). However, you should also consider running your headlights whenever you take the wheel, day or night, in fair weather or foul, if you want to optimize your ability to avoid accidents.
Research indicates that drivers who always drive with their headlights on reduce their risk for accidents by as much as
ten percent. Pedestrians and other drivers simply find it easier to see cars that run their headlights, even on clear, sunny days. Headlights can also compensate for sunrise or sunset glare that can interfere with drivers' vision.
2. Hazy Headlights Mean Dim Headlights
You've most likely noticed that some cars sport dim, hazy, yellow-tinged headlights instead of bright, clear ones. This change occurs naturally over time as oxidation, trapped water vapor, dirt, and road damage take their toll on the headlights. Your own vehicle may have developed the same problem in recent years.
Unfortunately, this cloudy discoloration can seriously reduce your headlights' effectiveness and places you at higher risk for accidents. According to AAA, this deterioration can leave your headlights with just
20 percent of their original brightness. Do-it-yourself fixes can only correct the problem temporarily.
If you want to return your headlights to their full brightness and keep them that way for a long time, you'll need to replace them. Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) headlights will usually achieve this goal slightly better than aftermarket headlights. Your body shop technician can recommend the right parts for your car.
3. A Dead Headlight Can Spell Trouble
A collision with another vehicle or immovable object can obviously shatter a headlight, rendering it useless. However, don't feel too reassured by the fact that your other headlight still works. When you drive with just one headlight, you only get half the illumination you need in low-light conditions which can make accidents more likely to happen.
Sometimes a headlight may keep burning out prematurely due to a loose headlight housing, water damage, or some other subtle malfunction. Your auto body technician can diagnose and fix these headlight-killing problems.
4. Headlight Misalignment Can Impair Visibility
Ideally, your headlights work together to create a focused pool of light on the road ahead, at the correct distance from your front bumper to let you see objects in time to avoid them. If the alignment between the two headlights goes awry, you may collide with an unseen obstacle or blind approaching drivers, who may then hit you.
Several factors can contribute to headlight misalignment. Some part of the headlight housing may have sustained damage, or a headlight lens's diffusion disc may have gotten scratched, altering the way it aims its light beams. If the headlight leveling system has malfunctioned, you may have no ready option for correcting the alignment.
Suspect a headlight alignment problem if the illuminated area in front of your car always seems too low, if the pooled light bobs up and down, or if other drivers flash their lights at you even when you run low beams. Your auto body technician can confirm this problem and make any necessary repairs.
Whether you need headlight repairs, all-new headlights, or simply better headlights than you already have, turn to Automotive Super Sports. We can repair or replace any bad lights on your car while also addressing any collision damage you may have sustained due to visibility issues.
Contact us today.
