Has you car seen an eye doctor?

Getting behind the wheel of a car without your glasses or your “car’s eyes” fully functional is like skydiving without a parachute – it’s not safe and you just shouldn’t do it! Heading out on the road under these conditions may put you, your family and the other people in your car as well as everyone on the road around you at risk.

When darkness, rain or snow falls, its not the time to acknowledge that your car has visibility problems. In fact, the likelihood of a road crash dramatically increases in the winter months as darkness and weather conditions heighten the everyday challenges of highway driving.

Automotive enthusiast Hansen, author and host of Powerblock, says she regularly sees “cars with hazy headlight lens, dim bulbs, worn windshield wipers, and damaged rear and side view mirrors”. These factors all contribute to reduced visibility and increased risk while driving. The good news is that these problems can be easily repaired.

Hansen encourages all car owners to perform the following vehicle visibility safety check when darkness or weather conspires to increase driving dangers:

* Check your wipers – Change them at least once a year or more if they begin to “streak”.

* Check your headlight brightness - Headlight bulbs dim over time. Park on a level surface facing five feet from a wall and check the light display. The circles of light should be bright or soft white, not yellow or dim, and the circles should be even and aligned straight forward on the wall.

* Change the bulbs - A high quality bulb will burn brighter and last longer. Be sure to replace both bulbs at the same time, even if it doesn't seem that they both need it.

* Check your headlight lens - If you see a cloudy, milky surface and can't see the bulb through the plastic headlight, your visibility will be restricted. In this case, restore your headlights using an at-home kit, like the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System, which allows you to remove the hazy layer of damage and polish your lens back to a clear condition.

* Check your mirrors - Ensure they are in good working condition and without cracks. Damaged mirrors can be cost-effectively replaced by visiting a local salvage yard.

* Check your tail, brake, backup and tag illumination lights - Back up your vehicle toward a wall  and activate your rear lights while watching in your rearview mirror. You can replace these easily - and possibly save yourself a traffic ticket as well!

All the products required to make these simple repairs are available at most auto center retailers and can be completed within a short time with just the basic tools.

So before you head out on the family driving vacation, complete a visibility safety check on your vehicle…and don’t forget your glasses.