How Dangerous Is Driving with a Broken Headlight at Night?

Can you imagine any situation more dangerous than driving along a winding curve in the middle of the night with a broken headlight? Car headlights are massively crucial for driver and passenger safety. Even if only one headlight is impaired, you have less visibility, which increases your risk of a deadly collision. Not only can you not see the road in front of you well, but other drivers may not see you coming in dark or foggy conditions.

Every state requires that a car’s headlights be in working order. Drivers on the road with broken headlights can end up paying hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines, especially for repeat offenses.

Headlights and Road Safety

Headlights illuminate the road ahead so you can see and react to pedestrians, animals, and other vehicles. Functioning headlights are essential in low visibility conditions, such as fog, heavy rain, snow, or poorly lit streets. Highway driving is particularly hazardous when you have a broken headlight.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that approximately 50% of traffic deaths occur at nighttime. A broken car headlight could turn the entire stretch of road in front of your vehicle into a blind spot. In most states, headlights must be on at night and during inclement weather. If you have vision problems at night, a malfunctioning headlight worsens a problematic situation.

A too bright headlight can be just as dangerous as one that doesn’t work at all. If you cannot dim your headlight beams, they could blind another driver or make it difficult for them to gauge your position on the road, increasing the chances of a collision. Some areas mandate that you dim your headlights within 500 feet of another vehicle.

Figuring Out When You Need a New Headlight

Ideally, you’ll figure out you need a new headlight before a police officer pulls you over and gives you a ticket. A complete headlight failure may mean the bulb has burned out and needs replacing. Other signs that you need new headlights include unusually dim beams, flickering lights, and blown fuses. Sometimes, your low beams may work perfectly, but when you try to turn on the high beams, the headlights remain at their ordinary brightness.

Since a malfunctioning headlight doesn’t necessarily mean a problem with the bulb itself, you should take your vehicle to our Huffines Subaru Corinth service center. We can diagnose whether the issue is a burned-out bulb, a wiring problem, a blown fuse, or an interrupted battery connection. In the worst-case scenario, your entire vehicle’s electrical system may be the reason behind multiple blown fuses and burned-out headlights. If you’ve been in an accident where your headlight was smashed or cracked, replace the light immediately.

How to Fix Your Headlight

Let one of our service center technicians examine your headlight and fix the problem is always best. If you want to do it yourself, follow all the safety precautions to avoid shocking or damaging your vehicle. The first step is to remove the key from the ignition and turn off your car completely. Then, you’ll need to open the vehicle’s hood and find the headlight holder, which is in the front.

Depending on your car’s make and model, you can expect three wires connected to the headlight bulb’s base. To disconnect the cables, press the clip that holds the wires together. Removing the old headlight and replacing it with a new one sounds easier than it is. The air filter or battery may obstruct access to the headlight bulb.

Once you reach the headlight, it can be a challenge to replace the bulb without breaking the wiring clip. It’s best to screw in the new bulb without touching it because any dirt or oil that you accidentally leave on the bulb could heat up and make the bulb explode when you turn on the headlights.

After you successfully replace your headlight, you can usually return to driving. Still, there’s no shame in admitting that the task is too difficult, especially when the underlying issue is hard to diagnose. That’s why our Corinth parts specialists are waiting to assist you with your broken headlight.

Finding Headlights That Fit Properly

A headlight replacement is useless if the new headlight doesn’t fit your vehicle. If your car’s wiring and fuses are sound, but the new headlight won’t turn on, there’s a compatibility issue. The headlight may run too hot for your vehicle or too large or small. Check the number printed on your old headlight bulb and ensure it matches the one on your new bulb. Auto experts familiar with your car’s make and model can tell you the right bulb size immediately.

An incorrect fit can damage your vehicle’s electrical wiring or cause the plastic surrounding the headlight to melt. If the size is right, you can choose from high-intensity discharge (HID), LED, or halogen car headlights. Halogen headlights are the least expensive and are the ones most cars have. However, LED lights are more energy efficient and don’t run as hot as their halogen counterparts. HID headlights use a lot of power, but they’re known to last longer. Consult our team to determine the best replacement headlight fit for your vehicle.

Visit Our Parts Center for Help

If your car needs a new headlight, our parts center specialists can help you get back to driving safely and minimize the risk of accidents. Replacing faulty parts can also help you avoid heavy penalties — if you accumulate enough tickets, you might get your license suspended. We have the knowledge and expertise to find the right headlight solution and install it for you. Check out our parts specials online or visit our Corinth location in person.