(WFRV) – Winter driving conditions and longer hours of darkness has officials with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation urging drivers to ensure their vehicle’s headlights are working properly.
According to a release from WisDOT, headlights are an important safety feature that allows drivers to see the road ahead while also making their own vehicle visible to others out on the roadways.
When visibility is reduced, drivers have less time to react to others on the road. Headlights help everyone stay safe. Be sure to check your headlights for snow, ice, or other debris that can restrict visibility.
Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan
Officials say that not only does having and using headlights help keep everyone on the roads safer, but state law also requires drivers to use headlights for the following:
- During hours of darkness
- All other times when there is insufficient natural light to clearly see a person or vehicle 500 feet away
- In adverse weather conditions (such as fog, rain or snow) that limit visibility
State law also requires that all lights on a vehicle be clean, aimed correctly, and working properly, with headlights also being a white or amber color without any decorative covers.
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Officials note that a vehicle’s high beams can help a driver see clearly in good weather conditions, but drivers should remember to always dim the high beams within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle, even on a divided highway.
In addition to cars and trucks, motorcyclists and bicyclists should also use lights when driving at dusk, at night, or in inclement weather as a way to remain as visible as possible to other drivers.
For more on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s February Law of the Month, click here.
