Driving Lights: What's Best for Your Car?

Driving Lights are a much needed accessory on a car these days. In the old days they were called fog lights..and were usually yellow in color. It was thought that the yellow colored lens would emit a light that would be less painful to look at when the fog reflected it back to the driver.

These days however it is becoming recognized that driving lights are useful at all times in the after dark driving hours. I installed a set on my truck last year and it didn't take me long to find I had made a serious mistake in not considering exactly what I wanted the lights to do. I went for a snazzy, modern look. The lights were really aerodynamic looking with a cool bluish white look to them when I turned them on. I learned quick that a driving light..is a tool..not a toy. It has a job to do..illuminating the road. It needs to be bright. It needs to be aimed. And any added colors are just a distraction.

So, I ditched those useless lights and this time around I got some REAL driving lights. They are most commonly called tractor lights..and I got them at my local Wal-mart for about 10 dollars each. Bright...55 watts each. I can actually aim them. The lights that preceded these, were difficult to aim...and stay that way. They were made to look good...function and access were secondary. But these new lights...WORK!! The one on the drivers side is aimed at the center on my lane, this illuminates the road and aims the light away from oncoming traffic. The light on the passenger side is aimed forward..and to the right. This lights up the edge of the road. This is handy when you live in a rural area where road painting is only done in election years. A light shining on the road edge is very useful for driving in rain or snow.

In conclusion: if you are shopping for driving lights, consider what you want the light to do. If you just want to look cool, then one of those cat eye shaped light sets will do well for you. You will find they are difficult to install, harder to aim and get them to stay that way. And, as usefulness goes, you would be better to wait until day time to drive.

If you want a real driving light..go for round or rectangular lights. Check the wattage, should be 55 watts or greater. Look at the mounting brackets. Will this light be easy to install...and can you aim it quickly if you need to with out resorting to crawling under your vehicle with a wrench? The brackets should be external where you can get at them. Easy to aim or re-aim.

And speaking of aiming, please have some consideration for oncoming traffic. A light shining in a drivers eyes is as much a danger to you as it is to him. Your lights should be aimed at the road in front of you, your lane and your lane only. Aim one light to far right to illuminate the shoulder of the road. The other light should be lined up in the center of your lane. The idea here is to light up your side of the road for safer driving.