FYI Magazine
Safety in numbers: Why it pays to replace headlight bulbs in pairs
- Created on Friday, 11 March 2016 00:28
- Published on Friday, 11 March 2016 00:28
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When it comes to vehicle maintenance, the rule of two has long reigned among professional automotive technicians and driving safety advocates. In accordance to this rule, drivers replacing important parts in their cars and trucks, such as tires, brakes, shocks and wiper blades, should always do so in pairs.
Replacing parts in pairs can ensure vehicles are properly balanced and functioning safely. But it's not just tires, brakes and other big-ticket components that should be replaced in pairs. Vehicle lighting plays an integral role in keeping drivers and their passengers safe, and motorists should exercise the same caution regarding their vehicles' headlights, taillights and turn signals that they do when maintaining the rest of their cars and trucks.
Why replace aging headlight bulbs?
Few drivers include headlight bulb replacement in their vehicle maintenance routines. But old headlight bulbs can drastically compromise visibility at night, when drivers' visual acuity is naturally reduced by as much as 70 percent. As headlight bulbs age, the effects of exposure to sunlight, ozone and pollution can significantly reduce their light output. According to Philips Automotive, a leading manufacturer of vehicle lighting components, headlight bulbs begin to project significantly less light within two to three years of their initial usage, producing dimmer light outputs that compromise the safety of drivers and their passengers. For example, new headlight bulbs capable of projecting 240-foot beams in front of a vehicle may see that projection dwindle to just 160 feet within two to three years.
Why replace bulbs two at a time?
In an effort to promote the importance of changing headlight bulbs two at a time, Philips developed the "Change In Pairs" safety campaign, which aims to educate motorists about the dangers of dimming lights while promoting the many reasons that changing bulbs in pairs makes the road safer for all travelers. To support this safety initiative, Philips also packages its Upgrade Headlight Bulbs in pairs.
Though replacing two headlight bulbs when only one is dimming may seem unwarranted, maintaining a consistent light output in both headlights makes the road safer for drivers, their passengers and oncoming motorists. When only one bulb is replaced, the resulting light output can be both unbalanced and unpredictable, providing inadequate lighting that can compromise driver visibility. In addition, oncoming motorists may experience difficulty seeing vehicles with just one headlight operating at full capacity, and some may even mistake oncoming cars and trucks for motorcycles, creating positioning issues for drivers on both sides of the yellow line.
How else can drivers improve visibility?
In addition to replacing headlight bulbs in pairs every two to three years, drivers can take the following proactive measures to reduce the likelihood that their vision will be compromised while on the road.
- Replace worn out wiper blades. Wiper blades need to be changed each season or in three-month intervals. Rubber wiper blades can grow brittle rather quickly, potentially compromising driver visibility at times when they need their vision to be as strong as possible, such as when rain or snow is falling.
- Clean interior glass and mirrors. Over time, interior glass can develop a film-like buildup that reduces vision and creates hazy reflections from the sun. Smokers may notice such buildup is especially thick in their vehicles. Periodically clean interior glass and mirrors to prevent this film from compromising your vision.
- Don't hang accessories in your vehicle. Fuzzy dice, photos and other items hung on rearview mirrors can prove distracting and block you from seeing the road.
Learn more about the "Change In Pairs" campaign by visiting www.philips.com/automotive.
