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The Citizen, 2017-10-19, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2017. PAGE 19. Heatllights as important to maintain as oil, tires Eye spy Lights are an important part of safe driving for both illuminating the coming road and notifying other drivers of ones' presence. Making sure lights work and are clean is an important safety tip throughout the year. (Ms photo) MS - Routine vehicle maintenance protects drivers on the road while also protecting the often considerable financial investment they make in their cars and trucks. Maintenance guidelines have changed thanks to technology, but drivers must continue to care for their vehicles to ensure the safety of themselves, their passengers and fellow motorists. From the time they first get behind the wheel, many drivers recognize the need to periodically change their oil and have their tires rotated. But few drivers may understand the importance of maintaining their vehicles' headlights, and just how compromised they and their passengers might be when driving with old, dimming or foggy headlamps. Burned out lights greatly diminish driver visibility and may even draw the attention of law enforcement. But headlight bulbs don't just burn out overnight. As bulbs age, their light output gradually reduces due to use and factors such as humidity, electrical resistance and filament fatigue. Drivers concerned about the efficacy of their headlight bulbs can take steps to improve their visibility when driving at night. • Accept your own vulnerability. The human eye is not adapted for nocturnal vision. As a result, drivers' visual acuity may be reduced by as much as 70 per cent when driving at night. Cloudy, dim headlights only exacerbate that problem, further compromising the safety of everyone on the road. Avoid aggressive driving and always obey the speed limits, even when it's late at night and roads are empty. • Learn to recognize headlamp clouding. According to the automotive lighting innovator Lumileds, sunlight, ozone, road pollution and even chemicals used in car washes can contribute to headlamp clouding. Clouded headlamps often appear hazed and yellow and reduce headlight output considerably. Routine headlamp inspection can help drivers discover Motorcycle safety on all drivers Continued from page 18 be wise to acknowledge their own vulnerabilities to cars and trucks. In addition, motorists can heed the following tips to reduce their risk of being involved in accidents with motorcycles. • Carefully check vehicle mirrors before changing lanes, as motorcycles are often obscured behind larger automobiles. • Drivers should be on even higher alert at intersections and turns, actively looking for motorcycles. Forty-four percent of two -vehicle, fatal motorcycle accidents in the U.S. in 2013 were the result of cars trying to turn left while the motorcycle went straight, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. • Allow for greater passing distance when passing a motorcycle. The gust of wind that results as cars accelerate and pass motorcycles could cause the bike to become unstable. Signal all intentions to pass and allow several car lengths before returning to the lane. • Direct Auto and Life Insurance advises drivers to give motorcycles the entire lane. It is not alright to pass a motorcycle in the same lane even though they take up less room. Many bikers ride tandem in lanes for this reason. • Drivers driving behind bikes should increase the distance between the back of the motorcycle and their own vehicles. Increasing this safety cushion makes drivers more able to react to the unexpected. • Be mindful of changes in the weather. Driving in the rain or other adverse conditions can be challenging for cars and trucks, but inclement weather is even more hazardous for bikers. Allow for a little extra breathing room and drive slowly when sharing slick roads with motorcycles. • Check blind spots often, as motorcycles can be hard to spot, especially when attempting to pass other vehicles. • Exercise extra caution at night, when riding can be especially treacherous for motorcycle riders. Cars should refrain from passing and avoid using their high beams unless it's necessary. All motorists, whether on four or two wheels can navigate safely when they are courteous to others. Veai'>Country Auto & Leisure Service Special $5495 starting from Includes: Oil, oil filter, chassis lube and 105 point vehicle inspection includes brakes, steering, suspension and drive train. TECH -NFT Pro fessional AUTO SERVICE Vern Steffler - owner/mechanic 40486 B -Line Road, Wingham Free Battery & Brake Inspections Safety Vehicle Inspections Classic Cars Specialist All Models - Cars and Light Trucks Motorcycles & ATVs Lawn & Garden Equipment Snowmobiles Trailers U -Haul Depot vernsauto@eastlink.ca 519-357-1997 clouded lamps that can greatly compromise nighttime visibility. • Restore clouded headlamps. Clouded headlamps do not necessarily need to be replaced. The Philips Headlight Restoration Kit can help drivers restore their clouded headlamp lenses. The kit employs a protective UV coating that effectively restores yellow, hazy lenses that have been compromised by years of exposure to the elements. • Replace headlamps that are past their prime. While not all clouded headlamps need to be replaced, some aging or outdated bulbs are best replaced with new models designed to produce substantially more light output. Drivers whose vehicles are equipped with standard halogen headlights may be surprised to learn that such lights typically begin to break down within two to three years of installation, during which time light output might be reduced by as much as 30 percent. Compared to standard halogen bulbs, Philips X- tremeVision Bulbs can put substantially more light on the road while producing longer beam patterns that make it easier for drivers to see more of what's ahead of them at night. Drivers' visibility is dramatically reduced once the sun goes down, but maintaining headlamps can help drivers combat that loss of vision. More information about headlamp maintenance and the alternatives to traditional halogen headlights is available at www.philips.com/automotive. Chamney Auto Repair Used Car & Truck Sales 38897 Blyth Rd., R.R. #1, Auburn 519-526-7283 or 519-440-7800 Proprietor - Eldon Chamney ALIGNMENT SERVICE ALIGNMENT - SUSPENSION SERVICE & TIRES 519-357-1230 Hwy. 86 West, R.R. 3 Wingham, Ont. NOG 2W0 Huron Transmissio Rust Control Protect Your Vehicle With K iroc , Specially formulated for rust protection and environmentally -friendly Bring in this Coupon or mention seeing our ad and Save!!! Free Basic Cleaning: • dash clean • fast wax when you bring in this coupon • Free Estimates • Front Wheel Drives • 4x4 Service • Domestic and Imports • Clutch and Differential Repairs • Specializing in Automatic and Computer Controlled Transmissions • 2Year Warranty on Rebuilt Transmissions F3pIativra 35587 Huron Road, RR #6, Goderich 519-524-2501 or 1-866-426-9502 .11 We accept MasterCard.