This weekend brings two things that change how we drive around Columbia. Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct 31, with kids out in costumes walking neighborhood streets as it gets dark. Then on Sunday, Nov 1, daylight saving time ends and the clocks fall back an hour. Starting Monday, a lot of us will be driving home from work in the dark.

That makes this a good week to take a hard look at your headlights. Most people don’t notice their lights getting weaker, because it happens slowly over years. Here are a few things worth checking.

Start with the lenses. If your headlight covers look yellow, cloudy or hazy, they’re blocking a good part of the light your bulbs put out. This is especially common on cars that sit outside in the Tennessee sun. The lenses can often be restored to clear instead of being replaced, and the difference at night can be dramatic.

Next, look at the bulbs themselves. Headlight bulbs dim as they age, long before they burn out completely. If one side looks brighter or whiter than the other, the dimmer one is likely on its way out. It’s a good idea to replace them in pairs so both sides match.

Then think about aim. If oncoming drivers keep flashing their lights at you, or your lights seem to land too close in front of the car, they may be pointed in the wrong direction. A bump, a pothole or a past repair can knock them out of line.

While you’re at it, walk around the car with someone else and check every light, including brake lights, turn signals and the little lights over your license plate. Wiper blades matter this time of year too. Streaky wipers on a rainy night make headlight glare much harder to see through.

On Halloween night, slow down in neighborhoods and around downtown, and watch for kids darting between parked cars. Dark costumes are hard to see, even with good headlights.

Exhaust Plus Auto Center can check your lights, replace bulbs, restore cloudy lenses and swap worn wipers so you’re ready for the longer nights. Call us at (931) 388-8411 or stop by 102 W 5th St in Columbia, Monday through Friday from 8 to 5. We’re closed Halloween weekend, so call us by Friday.