Winter is a time of longer nights, clouds, rain, and generally dimmer light. For all our sakes I would like to remind my fellow Kauaians, and visitors too, to TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS. The law requires that we turn on
Winter is a time of longer nights, clouds, rain, and generally dimmer light. For all our sakes I would like to remind my fellow Kauaians, and visitors too, to TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS.
The law requires that we turn on our headlights one hour BEFORE sunset to one hour AFTER sunrise. Not the other way around, folks. There are reasons for that: The sun is low in the sky at both sunrise and sunset , blinding at least half of us drivers. Also, the rest of us can’t see YOU coming in the dim light at dusk.
Remember that headlights are not just to let you see the road. Importantly, they also let other drivers, and pedestrians, see you. Please use them.
Please also make the distinction between parking lights and headlights. Parking lights are for, well, PARKING folks! You know, you stay broke down on the side of the road. Your parking lights save your okole, because other drivers can see your tail lights, but no headlights, and so they know you are stopped. If you drive around with your parking lights, you are training other drivers to ignore this safety feature. Plus people cannot see you well. No worry, your generator or alternator supplies all the electricity for your headlights when the engine is running and has enough juice left over to recharge your battery at the same time.
So when it’s kind of dark for any reason, please save a life_maybe yours, or maybe a neighbor’s child. Let’s help every one have a merry, not tragic, Christmas. TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS!
Peace,
R. “Ole” Olson
Kekaha
