Visibility is extremely important when driving, but especially so when the days get shorter and commuting to and from work involves driving in the dark. There are things you can do to maximize visibility. We will talk about several of those items in this blog post on how to make sure you can see and be seen when driving.
Think about all the parts on your vehicle that help you see and those that help you be seen by others. If you are driving with a tail light or headlight that is out, you won’t be maximizing your visibility. That also means you are risking your safety and the safety of others. Here are some items to consider when it comes to seeing and being seen:
- Make sure all your vehicle lights are operating. Have someone help you do a driveway test. Check to make sure the headlights (regular and brights) are working, all directional lights are operational, and that the back-up and brake lights aren’t out. If you find any that aren’t working, replace them right away. When it comes to the headlights, make sure they are adjusted properly so you can see in front of you and you don’t blind drivers coming toward you (we can do this for you).
- Take care of yellowed or cloudy headlamps. When vehicles get older, the clear covers for the headlamps may get cloudy or yellowed. This hinders the ability of the light from the headlamps to shine brightly. We can restore the headlamp covers so they look like new.
- Change windshield wipers at least once a year, but preferably in the spring and the fall. Winter snow storms can wreak havoc on a set of wiper blades. You certainly don’t want to be driving in a winter snow storm or bad rain storm to find that the wiper blades aren’t clearing the windshield of snow, ice or rain. The simplest way to avoid visibility problems during inclement weather is to make sure you change the wiper blades regularly.
- Fix or replace a chipped or cracked windshield. When it comes to windshield repair vs. replacement, it all depends on the extent of damage. It’s important to note that the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), has stated that the windshield acts to strengthen the structural aspect of many vehicles. Keeping that in mind, you should have a cracked or chipped windshield replaced or repaired right away. The size of the crack or chip determines whether or not it can be repaired. So does the depth and the location of the chip or crack. If you have a chip or crack in your windshield, and it can be repaired, have it done before the cold weather sets in. The heat from the defroster on a cold winter morning can cause the chip or crack to spread.
The technicians at Shade Tree Garage in Morristown, NJ, can assist you with all of the items listed here. Contact us today to ask about our Visibility Package and make sure you can see and be seen this winter. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.