Road Safety: Headlights – To See and Be Seen on the Road

Most headlight lenses are now made of polycarbonate, which is a malleable plastic material favoured by car manufacturers for its ability to be moulded into aerodynamic shapes. However, while impact resistant, polycarbonate tends to deteriorate rapidly. Automobile headlight lenses damaged by abrasives and debris such as sand, calcium or salt, as well as harsh Quebec weather become so opaque that they can lose up to 50% of their illumination capacity.

Worn-out headlights threaten safety

A CAA-Quebec study shows that driving with worn-out headlight lenses can be particularly unsafe. A motorist travelling 50 km/h at night in favourable weather conditions will have four seconds less to react in an emergency situation if the headlights are dull and faded. Imagine when it is snowing or raining! Four seconds… that is more than enough time to be in an accident.

Similarly, the results show that, after dark, the driver of a vehicle with damaged lenses can see panels up to 50 metres compared to 115 metres for someone driving a vehicle with headlights in good condition. Considering that 50 metres is the distance that a car driving at 70 km/h needs to stop, it becomes obvious that worn-out headlight lenses are not at all safe.

Polish them up!

In addition, the CAA-Quebec study found that the headlights of several vehicles do not allow light to pass through adequately. Out of 500 vehicles checked, 15% showed obvious signs of headlight opacity and another 15% were starting to show signs of wear. This means that one out of three vehicles did not have optimal illumination capacity.

So what’s the solution? A particularly effective sanding and polishing technique. Although a number of headlight restoration products are sold, you should know that some companies specialize in headlight restoration and the results are dazzling with a reported 325% illumination increase for low beams and 525% for high beams! And the good news is that the treatment is inexpensive, long-lasting and clearly improves the overall appearance of the vehicle.

When traveling on roads and highways, it is essential to see and be seen: it is a question of safety for you, your passengers and other road-users. Wait no more! Join other responsible drivers and give your headlights a much needed rejuvenation treatment.