Be Seen: Use Headlights in Winter!

By Paul Hall on Monday, January 10th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

BAKER COUNTY – (Release for ODOT) Driving at night is three times as risky as driving during the day, so it’s important to have headlights that do a good job of lighting up the road but without creating glare for other drivers. Turning on your low-beam headlights during the daytime in the winter months can help make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, check out the headlights rating program developed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Nighttime crash rates per mile are nearly 20 percent lower for vehicles with headlights that earn a good rating in the IIHS evaluation, compared with those with poor-rated headlights. For vehicles with acceptable or marginal headlights, crash rates are 15 percent and 10 percent lower than for those with poor ratings.

Follow these safety tips for driving in low visibility conditions:

Slow down. Disengage your cruise control. Most crashes occur because drivers are going too fast for weather conditions.
Clean your headlights to ensure they are not dirty or fogged up.
Use your low beams. High beams will disperse in thick fog or snow, making visibility worse for you and other drivers.
If you suddenly encounter a severe loss of visibility, pull off the pavement as far as possible. Stop, turn off your lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off the brake to be sure the taillights are not illuminated. Turn on your emergency flashers. Never stop in the travel lanes.
If you can’t pull off the roadway, slow down, turn on your low beam headlights, and sound the horn occasionally. Use the white fog line or roadside reflectors if necessary to help guide you.