As the days start to grow shorter with fall and winter both on the way, drivers across the country will face a similar challenge: nighttime glare.  As leaves scatter across damp roads, your headlights will inevitably reflect off the wet pavement. Further, the lower sun angle will also make it harder for your eyes to actually adjust quickly once the darkness sets in. Adding hours of time spent driving in the dark onto this, along with the risk from limited visibility, becomes one of the top concerns for drivers.

One innovation posed to help is automotive adaptive headlights. These beams adjust to the road, speed, and oncoming traffic. By actively reducing headlight glare and illuminating the road more, they can make driving safer and less stressful. Learn everything you need to know about the benefits of adaptive headlight technology, including why you should consider investing in them if you don’t already have them.

Why Fall Makes Night Driving Tougher

Nighttime driving is already inherently riskier than driving during the day, but the fall season adds unique conditions that amplify the dangers on the road. The most notable of these include:

1. Shorter daylight hours: With the sunset time creeping earlier every evening, more and more commuters spend their drive home in the dark
2. Wet pavement reflections: Rainy fall weather can turn the asphalt into a mirror or reflector that scatters headlight beams in unpredictable ways
3. Fog and mist: Cooler temperatures can often create patchy fog at dusk and dawn, thereby diffusing light and reducing depth perception on the road
4. Leaf litter: Falling leaves on wet pavement can add extra shine and slip risk for your car, especially under the glare-heavy traditional headlight beams

Through studies it’s been shown that around 50% of fatal traffic accidents happen at night, going to show how important it is to be aware of the dangers of night driving. This risk is only amplified during the fall, which is why considering every possible safety measure is of paramount importance.

Adaptive Driving Beams vs. Auto High-Beams: The Difference

Most modern vehicle headlight systems feature automatic traditional headlamps at a minimum, but these aren’t the same as adaptive driving beams. Auto-high beams use a sensor that detects oncoming headlights or taillights in the distance. This sensor then automatically switches the beam strength between low and high. While this is a useful tool as it takes the job out of the driver’s hands, it’s still a fixed beam.

On the other hand, adaptive driving beams continuously adjust both beam shape and intensity based on road conditions. They can dim only a small portion of the beam, in order to avoid blinding oncoming drivers, while leaving your lane fully illuminated. Additionally, they provide this high level of illumination while reducing glare for everyone else. It took until 2022 for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to officially announce that adaptive high-beams could be installed on new vehicles as they were navigating federal regulations.

Easy Visibility Gains: Aim Checks, Clean Lenses, and Clear Glass

Even if you don’t have adaptive technology installed on your car or the inability to install an aftermarket version, there are some quick improvements you can tackle to improve visibility on the road and help oncoming vehicles:

1. Check the aim of your headlights: Poorly aimed headlights can either blind other drivers or fail to illuminate the road, so adjust your lights as necessary using the screws under the hood.
2. Clean clouded headlight lenses: Polycarbonate lenses can yellow or fog over with time, thereby reducing output and scattering light, so purchase a DIY kit to restore clarity to them.
3. Replace worn-out bulbs: Halogen bulbs last 500-1000 hours, HID bulbs last 2,500-3,000 hours, and LED headlights last as much as 50,000 hours on average. If your vehicle has surpassed these estimated hours, it’s worth replacing the lights as soon as possible.
4. Keep glass and mirrors clean: Dusty windshields and mirrors will only serve to amplify glare, so purchase a quality glass cleaner and spruce things up before the time change
5. Upgrade your bulbs: As evident from the above, higher quality HID and LED lights will last longer and are also more efficient, so upgrade if you can and ensure you meet the DOT standards of not creating excessive glare on the road

Night Test-Drive Checklist Before You Buy a Used Car

If a used car is what you’re in the market for, you shouldn’t just test drive it during the day, in bright light conditions, to see how it responds. You also need to test it at night. This will show how well the headlights perform and what visibility looks like on the road. Here is a quick-hit checklist to take with you on your test drive:

• Look for even light distribution on the road and make note if there are any dark spots
• Check whether the lens coverings on the headlights are cloudy or yellow
• Test the high-to-low beam switching manually and ensure it works automatically
• Make note of the glare inside the cabin while you are driving on the road
• Ask what type of lights the vehicle has and confirm whether the bulbs inside have been upgraded
• Check how the headlights respond in different driving conditions, such as rain or going around a curvy road

By testing out the visibility of the used car in the dark, you’ll be able to feel safer getting behind the wheel when the sun goes down.

Protect Your Vehicle Every Season With Endurance

Fall visibility issues aren’t the only problem that you’re likely to see on the road as the weather starts to get colder. Slicker roads, inclement conditions, and other factors can lead to the degradation of parts and cause breakdowns. This is why having an extended auto warranty or vehicle service contract in place can help. Offering financial protection for covered mechanical breakdowns, such a plan can provide you with reimbursement for eligible claims at approved repair shops.

At Endurance Warranty Services, we have a range of contract options to choose from, from high-level stated protection with our Secure Plus plan to comprehensive coverage closest to that offered by a manufacturer through our Supreme plan. Depending on your driving habits and unique needs on the road, our plans can be customized to suit your vehicle.

In addition to 24/7 roadside assistance, you can activate a year’s worth of our Elite Benefits package, which includes appealing perks such as:*

• Reimbursements for up to four tires per year due to road hazards
• Key or key fob replacement
• Up to $500 in collision coverage per accident
• Up to $500 in reimbursements for windshield repair caused by chips or cracks

The above are just a sample of the benefits that an Endurance Warranty contract can bring to you and your vehicle. Find peace of mind on the road by investing in protection now.

Tackle Fall and the Road Ahead

Fall brings amazing weather, changing leaves, and unprecedented beauty, but it also brings tougher driving conditions when the sun sets. Making the investment into a vehicle with adaptive headlights or installing them after-market, if applicable, can be a smart way to reduce the risk of glare when getting behind the wheel. Adding on an extended warranty or vehicle service contract can sweeten the deal by protecting your wallet.

Prioritize your safety and reach out to one of our plan advisors at (800) 253-8203 or request a FREE quote. You can also see your price and plan recommendations now through our online store.