©Today's Sunbeam
by Reesa Marchetti

If you've ever been stranded with a dead car battery — especially after complying with the recently-enacted "Wipers on, Headlights on'' law — don't feel bad.

You're not alone.

On rainy days (in New Jersey), drivers are now required to turn on their lights. But those who forget to shut them off after parking may return to the vehicle and hear the sound of an ignition clicking — instead of an engine cranking.

As a result, road services such as AAA of South Jersey have seen a 12 percent increase in calls for battery jump starts, according to AAA spokeswoman Carol Scott.

Last year, New Jersey joined 17 other states that require drivers to turn on their lights at dusk and dawn, and in inclement weather, no matter what time of day it is. Despite the improved visibility and increased traffic safety that this measure provides, some car owners are finding a down side to the law.

"New cars are designed to have bells to go off to warn when the lights are on,'' Scott said. "Unfortunately, older cars don't have this.''

Carneys Point resident Tony LaPalomento, who drives a AAA "helper truck'' around Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland and Camden counties, has encountered a lot of cars with dead batteries lately, he said. The helper truck is a free service that AAA provides to motorists whom LaPalomento spots broken down on the road.

LaPalomento said that dead battery syndrome occurs frequently on foggy or misty mornings.

"People get out of their car and if in they're a hurry, they leave the lights on,'' he said. "A lot of people will tell you, `It's the first time I've ever done that and I do feel really dumb about it.'

"It's not a funny situation as far as they're concerned.''

Compared to the roughly six million drivers on the roads of New Jersey, state Department of Transportation spokesman John Graf said that the number who inadvertently leave their lights on is small.

"Thousands of cars don't have the capabilities of being turned off automatically,'' he said, "but do we get in check with the new regulations and maybe save lives - or do we risk a life?''

Graf said that the new law helps motorists to see other cars more clearly and to more accurately judge their proximity in inclement weather.

"With someone coming around the bend or going down a hill,'' he said, "having the lights on makes a difference.''

Scott said that AAA was a supporter of the legislation since its introduction here. Florida, New York, Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia are some of the states that have noted significant decreases in highway accidents since enacting "headlights on'' laws, she said.

"We're looking for similar results,'' she said. "We just need to make the public aware — and remind them to shut them out when they're done driving.''

In order to bring the legislation to the public's attention, the DOT has posted signs bearing the message "Wipers On, Lights On: It's the Law'' at entrances to primary roads in the state. Drivers coming from Delaware on the Commodore Barry and Delaware Memorial bridges are reminded to use their headlights or risk fines of up to $50.

In addition to calling for headlights during rainy weather, the law also applies to mist, snow, smoke, fog, or other precipitation or "unfavorable atmospheric conditions or for any cause there is not sufficient light.'' Graf said that it will take time for people to get used to the idea, "just like recycling was 10 years ago.''

"No one wanted to recycle and everyone said it won't work,'' he said. "If this is just a start at making a major difference, then we can inconvenience a small number of people - safety comes first.''

According to Graf, informational mailings have been going out with state Division of Motor Vehicle forms such as drivers license renewals. He said that other promotional items are under consideration, including a dashboard sticker to remind people to turn their lights on — and off.

Pennsville resident George Andrus has had to call for road service for a dead battery several times in the past. It wasn't because of the new law, he said — he usually drives with his headlights on all the time except for short local trips.

"It's been the law in New York where I'm originally from to have the lights on all the time,'' he said. "This last time I left them on, I had gone over to Delaware and had come back and went in the house without remembering the lights were on.

"The next day, I was supposed to take the car to the garage to have it serviced and when I got in, it was dead.''

Wayne Scott, who owns a service station in Carneys Point, said that it's a good idea to drive as Andrus does with the lights on all the time. This has been a requirement for motorcycles in New Jersey for a number of years, he said.

"Headlights will catch your eye,'' he said. "You might not see the motorcycle but you always see the headlights. I make all my drivers drive with them on.''

Scott's Auto Repairs also recommends an aftermarket headlight warning buzzer that costs approximately $30 and takes an hour of labor to install in a car.

"I have been telling people about it,'' he said. "When the battery goes dead, they say, `I wish I had thought about that before.' ''

State police spokesman Al Della Fave agrees that the increased safety effected by the headlight law outweighs the threat of dead batteries. Because the police are still educating people about the regulation, troopers are using "a lot of discretion'' when stopping violators.

"They're allowed to use a warning,'' he said. "I haven't heard of many troopers issuing tickets at this point.''

So if your headlights are dim because you forgot to turn them off, look on the bright side. Your battery may be dead, but you're alive — and the new law aims to keep you that way.