Wipers Should Trigger Headlight Use, Agency Group Says

Turning on your headlights when it's raining, misty or dark is one of the best ways to avoid accidents, according to allMass Group Inc., a Massachusetts network of insurance agencies.

"Turn on your lights when you turn on your windshield wipers," said Jack Norton of Norton Insurance Agency, an allMass member agency in Acton. "Without headlights and taillights, other drivers can't see you in the rain."

But many drivers don't turn on the beams until it's pitch black, because most states don't have tough headlight laws. Massachusetts, for example, requires headlights to be used a half-hour before and after sunset and "when conditions warrant."

Seven states require using headlights when wipers are in use. Other states, including Rhode Island and Connecticut, call for headlights when there's precipitation. Most states at least stipulate use when visibility is less than 1000 feet or 500 feet.

Even in a late-model car with automatic daytime running lights, drivers should still turn on the beams when the wipers are in use, Norton says. These cars often don't have automatic taillights. Without taillights, it is easier to get rear-ended on a dank day or in slippery-when-wet conditions.

"It isn't that headlights help you see better," Norton added. "The key is visibility to other drivers."

Even on clear days, don't wait until dark to turn on your beams, allMass advised. When the sun is low in the morning and evening, it's harder for drivers and pedestrians to see you. Headlights and taillights can save you from an expensive accident or even save a life.

allMass is a network of 30 independent insurance agencies across eastern and central Massachusetts.