Beware Of The One Eyed Monster
by RICHARD JENKINS
As the British winter draws on it is likely most drivers have encountered what is often referred to as the one-eyed monster driving on British roads - vehicles which have just one working headlight.
Statistics show that the biggest culprits are commercial vehicles. The reason for this is hard to conclude however the general opinion is that it is due to the fact that commercial vehicles rarely have one person who takes overall responsibility for maintaining the headlights and that commercial vehicles are used more.
Having just one operating headlight is dangerous. It causes reduce visibility for the driver when driving at night and also makes the vehicle more difficult to see for other road users.
In the rear view mirror, a vehicle with only one working headlight can easily be mistaken for a motorcycle. Whilst urban driving when trying to negotiate parked vehicles as well as oncoming traffic it can be difficult to gauge the width of an oncoming vehicle with only one working headlight. This increases the changes of a collision. At higher speeds in less congested urban environments the "one eyed monster" can cause even more danger. Such vehicles, when overtaking can be momentarily invisible to oncoming traffic especially if the non-working headlight is on the offside (right).
Defective headlights are not the only cause for concern. When lights fail at the rear of the car driving at night is made even more risky. If brake lights don't work then a rear end shunt is increasingly likely. When only one rear light is operating correctly it will cause the same issues as when only one headlight is working.
Of course it is an offensive to drive on a UK road with defective lighting. A car will fail the MOT unless the lighting is all in order. Yet the "one eyed monster" continues to be a feature of night time and especially winter driving.
Usually lights that fail to work are simply a result of a defective bulb. To check such a thing hardly takes anytime at all. All UK learner drivers must now pass a test known as the show me, tell me test. One of the questions is "Tell me how you would check that the brake lights are working." The answer to which is "Activate the brake pedal and make use of reflections in garage doors etc to see if the brake lights come on or ask someone to help." It's even easier to check your other lights simply switch then on and see if they're working.
These simple tests can make driving at night a much safer activity for all concerned.
Richard Jenkins is owner of the driving test and driving schools website. A site for learner drivers which provides guides on topics such as the driving theory test and the driving test DVD.
