Cars with only one headlight. More common in winter?

[samclem]

_{Boy, I'm gonna embarass myself if this has been asked.}

I have had only one headlight for about 5 weeks now. My excuse, flimsy as it is, is that it has been rather too cold for me to change the light. We've had a nasty, cold winter so far in Northern Ohio. I've actually had the new headlight sittting in the car all this time. Just waiting for the right sunny day to install it.

Perhaps, because I only have one headlight, I have notice that there are incredible numbers of cars with only one headlight. I see them every night while driving.

So, my question is, are cars with only one headlight more common in winter than Spring/Summer/Fall? If so, why? Or am I just more sensitive to this because mine is out?

Of course, in the summer, I wouldn't notice that an approaching car had a missing headlight until they needed to turn their lights on, probably about 9:00 or so. In January, we turn our headlights on at 5-6.

[Sock Munkey]

It's probably all those reasons.

[Harborwolf]

One other reason is that some people with nicer cars bring out "junkers." It's just a cruddy car they use to soak up the road salt and the increased risk of accident. It's not common, but I thought I'd bring it up.

[Casey1505]

A likely reason for more "padiddles" (from a childhood game) in winter is that potholes are more common in winter. A car hits a pothole hard, generally with one of the front tires. The resulting thud would cause the filament in that headlight to break, and the light would go out.

[Duckster]

Originally posted by Casey1505
A likely reason for more "padiddles" (from a childhood game) in winter is that potholes are more common in winter.

But is a car with one headlight outa padiddle or a padinkle? I could never remember which applied to left light out and which applied to the right.

[Casey1505]

most definately a padiddle. Anyone who tries to score with "padinkle" is cheating. They're trying to convince you that the motorcycle you just saw was actually a Ford.

[stypticus]

If you have an accident in a car with one headlight out, be prepared for the insurance issues afterwards. The other driver's lawyers will be looking for any excuse to increase your responsibility.

Consider also that your car is near invisible from the wrong side of the road when you're following another car. Pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars trying to turn in front of you might cause a "thud" on the front end, which Casey1505 will tell you can make the other headlight burn out too.

[Manduck]

One of my headlights has a leak in it. In rainy weather, it slowly fills with water. When the water gets high enough to splash onto the bulb, the bulb blows and I have a one-headlight car. We get more rainy weather in the winter.

[Walloon]

Originally posted by samclem
Of course, in the summer, I wouldn't notice that an approaching car had a missing headlight until they needed to turn their lights on, probably about 9:00 or so. In January, we turn our headlights on at 5-6.

Daytime running lights are standard equipment on all GM, Toyota/Lexus, Saab, Volvo, Volkswagen, Isuzu, Suzuki, and Subaru vehicles.

[N9IWP]

possible factor:

If you see only one hedlight in the winder., it is probably missing in a car.
In the summer, it may be a motorcycle

Brian

[handy]

Maybe cause they keep them on all the time during the day when they are driving so you need new ones more often? Rarely do both go out at the same time, but you need to change both of them at the same time if just one is out.