National Car Care Month: The importance of being seen on the road
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MS -- As they spend more and more time in their vehicles, drivers tend to grow more comfortable behind the wheel. As a result, drivers may be inclined to take certain things, including how visible they are to approaching motorists, for granted.
When drivers think of their vehicle lights, they tend to be most concerned with how those lights impact how they can see the road ahead of them at night. Clearly lit roadways vastly improve driver safety, and the right headlights can go a long way toward illuminating even the darkest of roads.
- Routinely inspect all vehicle lights. It's important that drivers routinely inspect brake lights, taillights and signal lights as well. Such inspections can ensure that vehicles behind and alongside drivers' own cars and trucks can see them as they brake or attempt to change lanes.
- Upgrade to LED lights. Even lights that are working properly can be a serious safety hazard. Standard incandescent lights found in many vehicles do a poor job of effectively illuminating vehicles when drivers apply the brakes or put their turn signals on. Lights that fail to immediately alert fellow motorists that drivers have applied the brakes or are making a turn can contribute to accidents.
The new LED lighting technology, which is used in Philips Ultinon LEDs, makes the lights much brighter and more visible than standard incandescent lights, delivering more dynamic lighting for both exterior and interior vehicle applications. Designed as direct replacements for brake and taillights, signal lamps, back up lights, running lights and side markers, Ultinon LEDs turn on instantly and can reduce braking distance by up to 20 feet at speeds as high as 75 miles per hour. That superior, more immediate light output ensures vehicles are seen more quickly when drivers are turning or applying the brakes. And because their advanced design makes them highly resistant to extreme heat, vibration and other potentially harmful environmental conditions, Ultinon LEDs can provide drivers with the peace of mind that their lights will last longer than standard incandescent lights without exhibiting diminished performance.
Lumileds, the exclusive supplier of Philips automotive light products, offers a full range of Ultinon LEDs and has also developed a convenient online Bulb Look Up that helps drivers identify the right LED for their particular vehicles. The Bulb Look Up, available at www.philipsautolighting.com, even tells them where they can buy the LEDs.
- Drive defensively, especially at night. A 2016 analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System found that more than 40 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States in 2014 occurred between the hours of 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. Automotive fatalities spike during nighttime hours, when drivers' vision is naturally diminished. When driving during twilight hours and after the sun goes down, drivers can make a concerted effort to drive defensively.
Drivers must remember that seeing and being seen makes for much safer roads. More information about vehicle lighting technology is available at www.philipsautolighting.com.
SOURCE Philips Automotive
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