Back on New Year’s Eve, I tried to replace my own headlight. Well, I didn’t try; I succeeded. Then again, “success” is a strong word, considering it took me an hour. Prying the casing out was much more difficult than the owner’s manual lets on, and every pull feels like you’re going to shatter the bulb, or the acrylic, or the quarter panel.
Anyway, after way too much time and effort, I had two functional headlights. For like a month.
I don’t remember exactly when, but sometime in late January or early February, I started my car and noticed that the same headlight was out. This makes me think that maybe there is something wrong with the wiring and not the bulb, and that it’s something I did when I was replacing it. Awesome.
Now, I know what you’re saying: “Dude, you’ve been driving around with a broken headlight for a month!” I know. But in my defense, last time I tried to fix it, it ended up going out again, and with my job, it’s hard for me to find a day to burn at the mechanic (I have a few other things to get done as well). I know. No excuse.
I thought about that tonight on my way home. I’m the clown with one headlight, but I saw two cars with NO headlights on. How can you…I mean, one headlight illuminates things reasonably well, and I know I didn’t realize at first that my second one was out. But how do you not notice that you have no headlights on? Or even worse, do you notice but not care?
There are a lot of things that people do that just make me shake my head (see: “dumping trash in a random parking lot because you’re awful”), but there are some things that make me yell out loud at/to no one particular. You’re not just putting yourself at risk – what if someone doesn’t see you and you get them killed? How would you feel then?
Nothing, probably. You’d probably be laying on the slab next to them.
For Christ’s sake, people. Turn your headlights on, buckle your seat bets, and be careful.
A Revolution From My Bed 