Headlight study: Drivers not seeing as far as they should

There’s a lot to consider when buying a new car, but headlights are rarely on anyone's top checklist; now a new study says it’s something drivers should seriously consider.

The first ever headlight test was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this week and researchers say the results are ‘dismal’.

Only one new car model received a good rating. The 2016 Toyota Prius with led headlights received the best rating in the study, while some higher-end cars were in the bottom tier.

The study says headlights should illuminate at least 300 feet ahead, but many of the new cars tested revealed only half that.

“If you're driving on the interstate in one of the worst performing vehicles you probably shouldn't be driving faster than 35 miles an hour,” Matthew Brumbelow, a senior research engineer at IIHS, told ABC News.

Local retailers say if you do a lot of night driving, there are some headlight upgrades that can help.

“A car that has the HID which are High Intensity Discharge lights…is going to give you about 25 percent better visibility; its going to let you see farther, wider and let you see some of those shorter obstacles that might be in the road ahead of you,” Tommy Baker with Schulte Subaru of Sioux Falls said.

If you're not in the market for a new car, area law enforcement say all drivers should think about headlight maintenance.

Conversely, my pickup has had the same old-tech sealed-beam bulbs for well over 10 years and may be dimming a bit now.
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Sealed beams do dim over time ,, but you can get replacements for standard round and rectangular sealed beams that take H4 bulbs from many sources (I like Hella) ,, the better quality glass in a more precise shape along with a far superior reflector will be like night and day for you.

You see many headlights burned out for many reasons...

1.) the polycarbonate lenses develop micro cracks from UV and water intrudes.
2.) the water intrusion destroys the reflector and corrodes the bulb contacts reducing voltage to the bulb.
3.) The bulb sockets and the seams where the clear polycarbonate connects to the reflector often leak also.
4.) the polycarbonate deteriorates and becomes cloudy or yellowed trapping excess heat inside the headlight reducing bulb life and light output.
5.) when people replace their headlight bulbs they often touch the glass portion with their fingers. the skin oils greatly reduce the bulbs life.

The answer is to replace your headlights with quality glass lensed units if they are available... If you must keep those crappy polycarbonate units then clean them... here’s how to do it..

1.) get an orbital polisher with multiple speeds and terry cloth bonnets.
2.) depending on the damage use 800 grit / 1200 / 1500 grit paper to get the yellow off.. stop when you get white “sawdust” ,, use a circular pattern , keep the paper wet and go lightly.
3.) use generous amounts of “Meguires PlastX polish” or equivalent with your polisher ,, use medium speed , high speed may melt the lense...

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