‘Lights on’ campaign mixed

It was a dark and stormy day. Windshield wipers were slashing forth and back.

And still 25% of drivers did not have their headlights on as required by the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code 4302; Periods for requiring lighted lamps; (3) Any time when the vehicle’s windshield wipers are in continuous or intermittent use due to precipitation or atmospheric moisture, including rain, snow, sleet or mist.

Note that the law says headlights which also turn on tail lights that are as important.

The reason for the law is not so that the driver can see better, but so that other drivers can see your vehicle.

Why people driving asphalt colored vehicles do not understand that their vehicle can be almost invisible in wet conditions amazes me.

Pretty silver gray or just plain drab gray is melded with the asphalt. White vehicles covered with salt residue present the same problem on snowy roads.

Some readers may recall when the US Federal Government tried to force safety down American throats by requiring manufactures of motor vehicles to install lights systems that came on when the engine was running as Canada does.

No way is that a government function.

Individuals can decide when their lights need to be on no matter what the safety experts say.

Some drivers may have noticed signs on the highway that instruct drivers to “Turn Lights On For Safety”.

The same drivers may have noticed that there are groups of vehicles that always drive with their headlights on.

School buses are one. Lights On For Safety. Fairly simple.

The Pennsylvania State Police have a policy that their vehicles will be operated with their headlights on.

For some reason this has not carried over to local public safety organizations.

An exception being the Chester County Sheriff’s Department.

Drivers may want to note which groups of vehicles drive with their headlights on all of the time. PennDOT has a Lights On For Safety policy and run about 90% compliance.

It is interesting to watch Verizon and PECO vehicles leave their yards on North Caln Road. For both groups there is about 65% of vehicles with headlights on.

Just as interesting is the number of civilian vehicles leaving the yards.

They have about 45% compliance.

There is no Corporate Culture of Safety unless it carries over to employees lives.