Taking your Vehicle Lights Seriously

Why you should take your vehicle’s lighting system more seriously

You may not think of them as such, but your car’s headlights are arguably one of your vehicle’s most important safety features.
Headlights are designed to not only enhance your ability to see the road ahead, but also to notify other drivers of your intentions. If they’re not working properly, you could be putting both yourself and others at risk.
Read below to learn more about the importance of headlights:

Visibility

In order to ensure you can properly see the road ahead, it’s important to keep your headlight lenses clean and clear at all times. It’s particularly important to check them regularly in the winter, as debris can quickly build up and ultimately hinder your view.
Fortunately, there are a number of polishers available to clean off any debris yourself.

Fog lights

While headlights do a tremendous job of enhancing your vision behind the wheel, they don’t always do the trick. If the fog outside is super thick, your headlights may actually hinder your ability to see, as the light can reflect back onto your eyes.
In this instance, it’s important that your fog lights are in working order. Just remember that fog lights are not designed for driving on clear nights. If you are using them when it’s not foggy, remember to turn them off when encountering oncoming traffic.

Brake lights

In order to communicate with other drivers that you’re slowing down or coming to a complete stop, it’s pertinent that your brakes lights are fully functioning.  Remember that they should be bright red. If not, you may increase the risk of other drivers not seeing you and getting rear-ended.

Turn signals

Thousands of accidents occur every year because of drivers failing to signal properly. While the majority of these accidents occur due to negligence on the driver’s behalf, some can occur because their turn signal stopped working.
As a result, it’s crucial that everything is in working order. Imagine driving behind a vehicle that doesn’t signal before changing lanes on the highway?
It should be noted that you should always cancel your turn signal after successfully completing your turn. Failing to do so can confuse other drivers and potentially place them in a dangerous and unwanted situation.

Check regularly

In order to ensure you stay as safe as possible behind the wheel, you should make a habit of checking your light system regularly. It may seem tedious, but it’s really quick and easy.
First, turn on all your lights at night and do a quick walk around your vehicle to ensure everything is illuminating. If you’re with someone else, you can get them to step out of the car and ensure your brake lights and turn signals are working too.
This simple test can be done in just a couple of minutes, so there’s no excuse for not doing it every few weeks.
Safe travels!