Check Your Lights: Daylight Savings Time
The end of Daylight Savings Time occurred in most parts of the United States on October 31st (Halloween), creating different driving conditions that can be hazardous without proper vehicle lighting. The Car Care Council recommends vehicle lights be checked before the clocks “fall back” to help ensure safe driving, especially during dusk and peak evening traffic hours. But if you hadn’t thought of it until now, there’s no time like the present.
A vehicle’s lighting system includes headlights (high and low beam), parking lights, turn signals/emergency flashers, brake lights, tail and marker lights, backup lights, interior lights and instrumentation lighting. Some vehicles are also equipped with fog lights. Headlights should also be periodically cleaned of mud and muck, and properly aimed according to procedures outlined in the owner’s manual. Headlights can be knocked out of alignment by rough driving, and if not properly aimed, can be distracting to other drivers.
Vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month in the United States have shown lighting to be an often neglected maintenance item. It may be hard to notice if the headlights are dimming, so letting someone else drive your car could enlighten you.
For more information or to receive a copy of The Car Care Council’s new Car Care Guide for motorists, visit www.carcare.org.
For more vehicle safety & maintenance information, visit Road & Travel Magazine’s Auto Channel.
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