NASCAR Star Helping Educate Drivers about the Risks
of Limited Visibility, Solutions for Headlight Safety
ST. PAUL, MN – There is a safety issue on America’s roads that rarely comes to light: dim headlight bulbs and hazy headlight lenses, which may lead to reduced visibility. With Daylight Savings Time and wintery, snowy weather, the importance of clear nighttime visibility increases.
Greg Biffle tackles his hazed headlights with the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System
Continuously raising awareness regarding the dangers of decreased headlight performance, 3M Car Care, the AAA Foundation and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) have again partnered to educate car owners about the risk. Over time, dim and hazy headlight lenses lead to reduced visibility. Headlights lose their effectiveness due to dirt, scratches, grime and other contaminates.
“Look around the next time you walk through a parking lot, and you’ll see a number of hazed headlights,” said Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion. “Every one of these cars may create a danger to the driver and other people on the road. But with some basic education about car care and maintenance, all car owners can take care of these problems before they cause accidents.”
What Causes Hazed Headlights?
A chief culprit of dim headlights is the headlight lens. Millions of cars on the road today have plastic lenses. Unfortunately, these lenses typically don’t hold up to weather and time; they may become hazed and yellowed, reducing the light output from the headlamp. The problem increases with the age of the lens, and with the average age of cars on the road about 10 years old, the problem is growing. In addition, the more sun or salt a vehicle is exposed to, the more likely that its plastic headlight lenses may be hazy. This is a common issue on many domestic and foreign automobiles, and isn’t limited to less-expensive vehicles. It’s not uncommon for luxury cars to have hazy headlight lenses, too.
What Is the Simple Solution?
Some of the tips and solutions offered are Vehicle Visibility Safety Checks, repair projects for hazed headlights and guides for replacing headlamps and wiper blades.
While replacing headlamps and windshield wiper blades have traditionally been inexpensive repairs, the solution for hazed headlights lenses hasn’t been quite so simple. Replacing the lenses can cost up to $1,500. The consumer repair products in the past just polished the lenses but didn’t completely repair the damage, remove the hazing or improve the clarity.
An innovative solution from 3M Car Care – the 3M Lens Renewal Kit – allows car owners to do the job themselves in approximately an hour, with just a cordless drill, all for less than $30. The Lens Renewal Kit features 3M’s industry-leading products that restore headlights to their like-new condition, maximizing night vision and increasing clarity while driving. It’s an easy, cost-effective and smart way to improve visibility, because the road is full of important reasons to shine a light on safety. 3M also offers a Lens Polish and Protector that helps extend the restoration, keeping headlights clear and bright.
“With one trip to a local auto parts store, a car owner can make their car – and themselves – a whole lot safer on the road,” said Biffle. “It only takes a cordless or electric drill for the job. For less than $30 and about an hour of work, people can greatly improve their light output and visibility on the road, not to mention the appearance of their vehicle. These new headlight repair kits from 3M allow anyone to fix this problem themselves – saving money and helping them drive more safely on the road.”
The 3M Car Care product line can be found at leading automotive aftermarket retailers and online at www.Shop3M.com. For more information on 3M Car Care products, visit www.3MCarCare.com.
About 3M
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M’s core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms – often in combination – to a wide array of customer needs. With $23 billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
