Spain’s winter-time change on October 25 means evenings will grow darker earlier by the clock. A few minutes spent checking the lights and cleaning the windscreen can help drivers avoid poor visibility on the road.
A headlamp can come on and still leave the road poorly lit. Dirt on the lens reduces the light’s effectiveness, while an incorrect beam angle can limit what the driver sees or dazzle oncoming traffic. Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has highlighted the wider risk: Revista DGT reported that 82% of Spanish drivers were considered at risk because their vehicle lighting was insufficient or poorly maintained.
Spain’s winter-time change on October 25 shifts clocks back from 3am to 2am. As evenings grow darker earlier by the clock, drivers have a timely reason to check their car’s lighting before setting out at night. The clock change is a practical prompt to inspect the lights as darker evenings arrive.
Start with the dipped headlights. Check that both work and light the road properly. Test the basic-beam headlights too. Switch back to dipped beams when another vehicle approaches or your lights could dazzle someone.
Check the indicators and position lights. Then make sure the brake lights work so other drivers can anticipate your movements. If the car has fog lights, test them. Use the rear fog light only when visibility is very poor, as its brightness can bother drivers behind.
A quick look is not enough. Clean the headlight lenses, since accumulated dust and grime can weaken the light. If the beams point too high or too low, ask a workshop to check their adjustment.
The windscreen matters at night, too. Dirt on the glass can create distracting reflections from other vehicles’ lights. Clean it before driving and check that the wipers clear the glass properly.
