Reminder for Motorists to Check Vehicle Lights

The end of Daylight Savings Time happens in most parts of the United States during the first weekend in November and creates unfamiliar driving conditions that can be hazardous without proper vehicle lighting. The Car Care Council recommends vehicle lights be checked as soon as the clocks “fall back” to help ensure safe driving, especially during dusk and peak evening traffic hours.

A vehicle’s lighting system includes the headlights (both high and low beam), parking lights, turn signals/emergency flashers, brake lights, tail and marker lights, back up lights, interior lights and instrumentation lighting. Some vehicles are also equipped with fog lights.

Headlights should also be periodically cleaned of dirt and grim and properly aimed to procedures outlined in the owner’s manual. Cleaning the exterior lens can improve lighting efficiency by up to 30%. There are many inexpensive products on the market made especially for cleaning and waxing headlight lenses. Rough driving can knock headlights out of alignment, and if not properly aimed, can be distracting to other drivers.

Vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month have shown lighting to be an often neglected maintenance item, with 8% of vehicles inspected needing work on at least one of the turn signals and 6% having problems with at least one of their brake lights.

For the safety of you and others, it’s best to have your vehicle’s lighting system inspected and repaired soon to be ready for the increased driving during darker hours.