Headlight Tech Talk

When purchasing your next new car, you may not know whether or not to splurge on LED headlights. Westways Magazine recently put together a study about which types of headlights help you see better when driving at night.
In the last decade, car makers have began to put LED lighting into their headlights and taillights. Most every car comes standard or has the option to upgrade to LED. But is it worth it?
The go to bulbs for many years have been Halogen. They are cheap, but need to be replaced every two to three years. High-intensity discharge bulbs, or HIDs, last four to six years, but are more costly to replace. While the most expensive option is LED, they last for 10,000 hours. According to Acura spokesperson Jessica Howell, that is "five times longer than HIDs and 10 times longer than halogens." The bottom line is that LED and HID headlights perform better than halogen headlights. And, While LEDs seem like the most expensive option now, they are actually cheaper in the long run.

Here are some tips to make sure that you are seeing farther down the road, no matter what headlights you have:

• Make sure your windows and headlights are clean. Dirty windows and headlights scatter light and increase glare.
• Repair and replace cloudy headlight covers to prevent cloudiness.
• Be considerate when using high beams to not use them when an approaching car is less than 500 feet away.
• Don't use your fog lights if the weather is clear. They do not approve your ability to see faster and it can create glare for oncoming drivers. 

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