A study by the VAB Diagnostic Center shows that 7 percent of vehicles drive around with one or more defective lights. The lights are poorly adjusted in 3.4 percent of the cars. In view of the switch to winter time, mobility organization VAB advises motorists to pay more attention to this.
Every year after the switch from summer time to winter time, the number of injury accidents during the evening rush hour increases. Because the evening rush hour takes place partly in the dark, it is important that the car’s lighting functions properly and that road users also switch on their lights in time.
VAB checked a thousand vehicles in its diagnostic center. Seven percent of them drove around with one or more defective lights and in 3.4 percent the lights were poorly adjusted. “However, properly functioning and correctly adjusted lights are crucial when driving in the dark,” says VAB. “This way you reduce the risk of dazzling oncoming traffic. If the lights are set too high, the view of the road is not optimal. Moreover, this will disturb oncoming traffic. Lights set too low ensure that the field of view is too short and you see obstacles on the road with difficulty and/or too late.”
Tips
VAB provides some tips for safely entering the dark winter months in traffic. Firstly, drivers must check that all their lights are working properly. In addition, they must ensure that the lights are properly and evenly adjusted.
They also recommend that people turn on their low beam headlights manually. “Turn the clock back one hour also means that it will get dark earlier. It is then still too bright for automatic dipped beam headlights, but too dark for the daytime running lights. Many recent cars are equipped with automatic lighting, whereby a light sensor will automatically switch on the low beam when it becomes too dark,” VAB concludes.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.