Headlights become aged, cloudy and hazy over time, which can seriously compromise the safety of pedestrians, passengers, and other drivers on the road. As the average age of cars on the road rises, the risk posed by these inadequate head lights becomes even greater. Indeed, modern vehicles tend to use replaceable bulbs with plastic lenses that are even more prone to warping and discoloration.

Compromised night vision is no joke — as we grow older, we have more trouble seeing at night. A 50-year-old driver may need two times as much light as a 30-year-old driver. After the age of 60, driving can become even more difficult, according to the American Optometric Association. That is one reason why it is of the utmost importance to have completely optimized headlights. It is even a problem for younger people — among nighttime crashes involving teens, 58% happen between 9 p.m. and midnight. States that have nighttime restrictions in place have reported up to a 60% reduction in crashes during restricted hours.

Luckily, many manufacturers offer products to restore damaged or diminished headlights. These DIY headlight restoration kits make it easy to repair headlights yourself, without too much effort — often in under an hour. This offers a much cheaper and easier alternative to getting a brand new headlight installed. The results are well worth the effort.

When shopping around for your headlight renewal product, don’t forget these important tips.

• • Asses your lens closely before purchasing a headlight renewal kit. If you lights are dim, the bulbs may simply need replacing. If the lenses are clear, then you should not use a lens restoration product.

• • Regularly clean your lenses with household glass cleaner, even after you restore them. This will keep them free of debris and clear for your saftey

• Make sure to thoroughly read the instructions when you purchase a professional headlight restoration kit, and watch the manufacturer’s instructional videos before applying

If done correctly, your headlight cleaning kit should save you tons of time, headache, and money — don’t hesitate to check out all of the options!