There are all kinds of tips and tricks that you can find online that will tell you more about winter safety. Whether it’s reminding you to check that your tires are properly inflated or to adjust your speed for the road conditions, it’s all good advice.
There’s one very simple winter safety measure you can take that often gets overlooked: Make sure that your headlights, taillights and signals are clean and clear.
Is light maintenance really that important?
Have you ever noticed that you can tell the age of a car just by looking at its headlights? The plastic lenses on headlights, taillights and turn signals are plastic, and oxidation, pollution and roadway grime can all combine to create a filmy surface.
When your headlights are filmed over, nighttime driving becomes more hazardous. Your headlights can’t illuminate the road as clearly, and that could leave you unprepared for hazards in your way. When your taillights and turn signals aren’t clear, you also run the risk of another driver missing your signals – and that could easily lead to a wreck.
You can’t replace a cloudy lens on your car’s lights as easily as you can replace a burnt-out bulb, but it’s wise to have the repairs done as soon as possible. With the short winter days ahead, you’ll be driving in the dark quite a bit.
If you do end up in a wreck due to another driver’s mistake this winter, make sure that you assert your right to recover your losses through a personal injury claim. Experienced guidance can help you figure out the steps you need to take.