A TROOPER hopes drivers will dim their headlights to make the roads safer.
Drivers are required to dim their lights when encountering oncoming traffic. Police are looking for new road laws to ensure lights don’t burn out other drivers’ retinas.
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The headlights are getting brighter, Colorado State Patrol Sergeant Patrick Rice told the local ABC affiliate KRDO.
Headlight brightness is one of the safety tests that all vehicles must pass to pass the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety standards.
But Sgt. Rice said a brighter headlight doesn’t always make the road safer.
“Now, for most people within 500 feet, you’re blinding oncoming traffic if you’re not dimming,” he said.
“So I think some of these things can be changed to help.”
Colorado highway laws regarding headlight glare have not changed since 1970, the official said.
In the legislation, now 55 years old, drivers were subject to fines if they did not turn off their high beams when cars were traveling in the opposite direction.
But the officer said drivers have complained about the launch of new vehicles with distracting or blinding lights and affecting safety.
New scrutiny of safety testing has automakers making their headlights bigger.
But decades-old laws don’t adequately regulate roads for nighttime and weather safety in general, the official complained.
He targeted cars with additional emergency lights mounted on the roof.
“I have often seen this violation, where people have an entire light bar across the top of the cabin,” the officer said.
Light bars are a common modification or feature added to large pickup trucks and SUVs.
They are best for lighting roads while using fog lights.
But the officer said more people are turning on their fog lights, headlights and bar lights at the same time.
Proper Conduct During a Traffic Stop
According to the ACLU, there are some tips to ensure a smooth traffic stop, regardless of the violation.
- Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from traffic as quickly as possible.
- Turn off the engine, roll down the windows and place your hands on the steering wheel. If it’s dark outside, turn on your interior lights to give the officer a good view. If you are in the passenger seat, keep your hands visible.
- Take your purse or wallet, registration and proof of insurance only when instructed to do so by law enforcement officers. Do not reach the glove compartment until asked to do so by the officer.
- Don’t make sudden movements. Narrate everything you are doing, i.e. “I’m getting my bag from the backseat.”
- Keep your tone calm and respectful.
Source: ACLU
“As far as fog lights go, there is a requirement that you can only have four white lights facing the front of the vehicle while it is moving,” he said.
Sergeant Rice also added that drivers should be more aware of the safety features of their cars.
Most new vehicles have automatic lights that can detect changes in weather and darkness and turn on without driver intervention.
But some of the features turn on too many lights, the officer said.
“Automatic headlights have become a problem,” he said.
“It’s there for the driver’s convenience and to make driving safer for everyone. But sometimes these automatic headlights aren’t as sensitive as drivers coming from the opposite direction would like them to be.”
The officer recommended that drivers access the owner’s manual and find the fog light button on the steering wheel.
This way, other drivers won’t be blinded by the light, he said.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
