Headlights: The Illumination to Winter Safety

Headlights are a very important part of vehicle safety. Most of the time, people do not think about them until one of them goes out. Inspecting your headlights should be a part of your routine general car maintenance. If it is not, now is a good time to begin implementing it now that the winter season is looming. It is imperative that you keep your headlights in good condition so that your journeys over pavement are safe and secure. It not only keeps you and your passengers safe; it keeps the other drivers and their passengers safe, also. 

Clean Your Headlights Yourself

You can choose to clean your headlights yourself. The plastic that houses the bulbs for the headlight, fog light, and turn signals can turn yellow or milky over time. The addition of road salt and other chemicals only hastens the discoloration. If the plastic is discolored, it mutes the light coming from the bulb, and you will not have good visibility. This can cause you to have an accident. It can also prevent you from being seen by other drivers. They may not be able to gauge where you are on the road. It is very difficult to remove the yellow or milky film. You can find cleaning kits in auto repair supply stores that may provide some result. You will also be able to find headlight-polishing paste that you can buff onto your headlights and then wipe off. Some people find that the kits can sometimes make new scratches over the ones you are trying to polish out, and they can cause scratches to the paint on the hood and front bumper. 

Get a Professional to Clean Them

The way to get the best possible result is to take it to a professional. An ASE master technician with his certification in auto bodywork would be qualified to perform this service for you. They will have the knowledge and experience needed to get the headlights to shine brightly again. They will have the correct equipment and materials they need and will be able to give your headlights a new life. In cleaning the surface, they will also be removing the road salt and other chemicals and grime that can accumulate and cause damage to your headlights. With the do-it-yourself polishing kits producing lackluster results, many people have opted to take their car to the professional and received a thorough cleaning. They found that their visibility was greatly improved and they felt more comfortable driving at night or when it is dark outside.

What are the Other Benefits?

The most important benefit you get from taking care of your headlights is the additional safety on the road. Clean headlights mean that other drivers will more easily see you and you can see other drivers. The light will be sharp and clear and it can even help your peripheral vision. You will be able to see things that are in your vicinity more clearly. Cleaning your headlights should become a regular part of your maintenance schedule. If you add this increased visibility to the performance you get from your car after a winter safety check, you can make sure that you will not have to spend any time waiting for roadside assistance or for your friends to come pick you up.