Some of the roads in Bull Valley are dark at night with all the trees. But, in winter, your headlights can face a real challenge.

You’re driving down a darkened Bull Valley Road late at night when you see a solitary headlight coming your way and you think, “This is a heck of a time to ride a motorcycle.” After all, the temperature has dropped to the teens and there are patches of ice on the asphalt road.

Then, just before it reaches you, you realize, “That’s not a motorcycle! That’s a car with a headlight out and it’s darn close to the center of the road.” You swerve suddenly and just miss an accident in the hills of Bull Valley. Hopefully, you don’t lose control of the car and wind up in the ditch, too.

This is an example of the importance of the lighting on vehicles. Headlights help the driver to see. But they also help a driver to be seen. Running lights do the same thing.

From behind, the running lights alert other drivers to your presence. This is all-the-more critical at night when it’s dark. And, considering that we have shorter days and more darkness in winter, it’s more frequently critical this time of year.

When you add fog, ran, sleet or a snowstorm, seeing others, and having them see you as you drive, is a constant challenge that must be met if you want to stay safe. Add slippery roads covered with snow and/or ice and you have a recipe for disaster that poor visibility maximizes.

There are other lights on your vehicle that play crucial roles. These are the lights that communicate your intentions. Your brake lights let someone know you’re slowing or stopping. Turn signals let other drivers know when you plan to turn. Emergency flashers let them know that you’re stopped on the road. And reverse lights let people know if you’re backing up.

If your turn signals don’t work, people won’t know if you’re turning. If your brake lights don’t work, they won’t know when you stop. Always a potential problem, these problems are all the more critical when visibility is reduced because of the dark and weather conditions.

Whether you’re driving a darkened road in Bull Valley, or a wide-open stretch of Route 120, you want your all of your lights operating properly. If you’re not sure how they’re working, it doesn’t hurt to have them checked out. Your visibility will come with a helpful does of peace of mind.