Your Cloudy Headlights Could Be Putting You at Risk in Minnesota

It's likely not an issue if you're driving a newer vehicle, but if your car is getting older, are your headlights all cloudy, hazy, and foggy? That could be a big problem here in Minnesota.

I noticed this phenomenon several times recently in one of downtown Rochester's parking ramps. I noted several car SUVs with headlights that have become cloudy, foggy, and hazy. And, if your older car's headlights look the same, it's not just a cosmetic issue; it could be compromising your safety.

Cloudy Headlights Could Be a Serious Safety Risk for Minnesota Drivers

That's because those old, cloudy headlights are likely only putting out a fraction of the amount of light they're designed to emit. That's the word from AAA, which says in THIS story that some of those foggy headlights are only putting out about just over 20-percent of the light they did when the vehicle was new!

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That's a big reduction-- which can lead to some dangerous driving conditions at night. The story says that the average age of a car on the roads in Minnesota these days is about 11 years old (which seems a bit old to me-- I seem to see LOTS of cars and SUVs newer than 2015 models out there, but I digress...), but these foggy and cloudy conditions can sometimes occur in cars that are only 3 to 5 years old!

Why Older Car Headlights Turn Cloudy and Foggy Over Time

The condition happens, the story says, because prolonged exposure to sunlight causes the plastic coating on our headlights to break down, which results in the plastic turning cloudy or foggy. That cloudiness then limits the amount of light the headlight puts out-- in cases by nearly 80 percent!

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And, the story says, because it happens gradually over time, we don't necessarily notice how little light our headlights are actually putting out. It also says that over 50-percent of crashes happen at night, so it's important to make sure your headlights are giving you as much light as possible.

How to Fix Cloudy Headlights and See Better at Night

So, what can you do? The story says if you notice the headlights on your car ARE cloudy, ideally you should have them replaced with new lights. But, if that's too expensive, you can always try cleaning them yourself (you can buy a headlight restoration kit or cleaning solution at most auto parts stores, like this kit, for instance).

And, of course, here in the North Star State, sometimes just cleaning all that dirt, dust, bugs-- or salt in the winter-- off your headlights can be a big help too.