08 Feb, 2023
We often speak to customers who say they no longer drive at night unless it’s absolutely necessary. They turn down social invitations and miss out on fun events with friends and family because they don’t see well at night and don’t feel comfortable driving. They blame it on aging and resign themselves to their recliners and TVs instead of participating in activities they used to enjoy. Even our younger customers complain that they just don’t seem to see as well at night as they used to and they worry about nighttime safety. Before you decide that it’s time to tuck your car into the garage at dusk every night, take a look at your headlights. According to research conducted by AAA, a majority of vehicles on the road right now suffer from headlight deterioration – that hazy, foggy look on the headlight cover caused by sunlight breaking down the plastic coating. Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations, states, “Headlights on the road in the U.S., even when new, don’t produce a sufficient amount of lighting, so any reduction in performance is a real safety issue.” Tests revealed that even the most advanced headlights illuminated only 40 percent of the sight distances of full daylight. Deteriorated headlights reduce this light even more, often by as much as 80%, and this deterioration can often be detected in vehicles that are just 3 to 5 years old. Why take the risk of driving with foggy headlights? The solutions are easy and inexpensive: The best solution is to replace the headlights with new, original equipment lights. This is the most effective repair, and restores 100% of the original light output. A second option, which is less expensive, is to install aftermarket parts, which was found to restore light output between 83 and 90 percent. However, some of these lights fail to meet certain requirements for light intensity and to be more likely to produce glare for oncoming traffic. The most cost effective option is headlight restoration, which tested to restore output to about 70% of the original output; however, both professional and DIY restoration produce more glare than is acceptable according to DOT criteria. If driving at night doesn’t seem to be what it used to be, it’s time to check those headlights. Let us help you choose the solution that is right for you and put you safely back on the road at any hour of the day – or night.