AAA Texas Warns Motorists to Use Extra Caution During End to Daylight-Saving Time; Experts Offer Tips to Drivers on Handling Glare From New Design Headlights

HOUSTON--Oct. 2, 20033, 2003--Daylight-saving time ends at 2 a.m., Sunday, October 26. AAA Texas reminds motorists that they need to adjust their driving habits as well as their clocks so they can stay safe in darker driving conditions.

After setting back their clocks an hour, motorists need to adapt to reduced visibility from darkness and fog that can affect both morning and evening commutes, said Rose Rougeau of AAA Texas.

"Drivers will need to use their headlights much more often than they do during daylight-saving time, and be aware that headlights also help make their vehicle more visible in dusky or foggy light conditions," Rougeau said.

Because the additional darkness will bring increased headlight use, many motorists may also experience a problem with glare from the high-technology headlights in use on newer model cars. These high-intensity discharge (HID) lights emit twice the light of conventional halogen headlamps and produce a blue-white light.

The new headlight design gives greatly improved visibility to the drivers who have them on their vehicles, but drivers around them may experience glare problems, particularly if the headlights are on a high-profile vehicle such as an SUV, according to AAA Texas.

AAA Texas says there are several steps drivers can take to reduce that glare.

AAA Texas is offering a free brochure with safety tips on this problem at each of its district offices. "Blinded By the Light? How to Handle Glare for Safer Driving at Night" gives the following tips about improving your ability to see while driving at night and reducing glare:

Keep all your windows and your headlights clean. A spotty windshield can both reduce visibility and increase headlight glare at night. Clean the windows inside and out frequently to get rid of nighttime "windshield haze." Also, even a thin layer of grime on headlights can block up to 90 percent of the light, so keep headlights clean.

Make sure your glasses and contacts are clean and scratch-free. Smudged or scratched lenses worsen headlight glare. If you continue to have problems with glare even with clean lenses, you may want to consider adding an anti-reflective coating to your lenses.

Use the rear-view mirror's "night" setting. Most cars have "day/night" interior mirrors to reduce reflected glare from vehicles directly behind you. To use, flip the small lever at the bottom of the mirror.

Replace and/or clean your windshield wipers. Wipers will streak your windshield if they are dirty or they need to be replaced. Clean the wiper blades with a paper towel dipped in windshield wiper fluid.

Avert your eyes from headlight glare. When an oncoming vehicle shines light directly into your eyes, move your line of sight to the right away from the glare until the vehicle passes. You can still see vehicles around you with your peripheral vision.

To prevent your headlights from causing glare for others around you, AAA Texas offers these tips:

Aim your headlights correctly. Your local automotive technician can make sure your headlights are correctly aimed during your next service visit, or refer to the AAA Texas brochure for tips on how to check them yourself.

Use your lights courteously. If your car has fog lamps, don't use them if there is no fog. In fog, use only your low-beam headlights, because your high beams will actually reduce your own ability to see and may temporarily blind other drivers. Avoid using your high beams when you see oncoming vehicles or when you drive in urban areas.

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance and financial products, travel agency, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.