By: Shaurya Lall
There is a route I take every day to get to home from my college. I got a little late and it was evening time with darkness on the road. Street lights didn’t work confirming my Indian nationality. Being bombarded with LED high beams in my rear view mirror hurt my already myopic eyes. I saw a Thar with a flood light, a sleepless night of mine was spent still trying to figure out what documentary channel these people work on to need such lights. I slept with a headache that night.
It’s not just the lights though, many other factors contribute to such unhealthy practices on road-
1)Using High Beams all the time: High Beams often end up blinding the view of the oncoming traffic. It is also a nuisance for people in front of your path because of the reflection in their rear view mirrors. This distracts the other motorists on the roads. High Beams should only be used in conditions where they are absolutely necessary.
2) Unsuitably Big Alloy Wheels: The Stock Wheels are provided by the manufacturer keeping the vehicle’s aerodynamic quality, handling ability, braking power and ride comfort in mind. Aftermarket wheels are often not upto the same quality as the OEM ones. They can also make the car unstable putting mechanical stress on the car.
3) Cheap Aftermarket Modifications: Many affordable accessories are available for sale in the market. These accessories can often lead to electrical malfunctions . Worst case scenario includes blown fuses leading to fire. Car companies often will deny warranty after these accessories are installed.
4) High Wattage LED Headlamps: Time to bust a myth. Higher wattage LED may not always make your visibility better but rather cause more harm on the roads. Many factors contribute if your car is suitable for an LED upgrade. For instance- Reflectors in cars that come with Halogen bulbs are often not designed for the throw of LED lights leading to a beam pattern that blind the other motorists. It is best to check the certification of the LED’s you purchase along with the legality of them complying with the Indian Motor Vehicle Act.
5) Irregular Maintenance: Regular maintenance, including checking fluid levels, brakes, tires, and other critical components, is crucial for vehicle safety. Neglecting routine maintenance can lead to unexpected failures and accidents.
6) Tailgating: Not leaving enough space between yourself and the person in front can lead to aggressive crashes with not enough time to react. Even in bumper to bumper traffic one must leave sufficient space so sudden braking can be reacted to.
