Do your lights work?
Feb 2, 2007 Brainwaves
As I’m driving home from Wegmans, Wal-Mart and Taco Bell this evening, northbound on I-390, heading for the I-390/I-590 interchange, I notice a police car parked in the the median. As I’m going by, I notice his brake lights come on briefly, but don’t happen to see anything else as I go by. I figured it was weird, but paid it no mind.
Moments later, I’m on the ramp from I-390 to I-590, and about to merge, when my mirror lights up — a combination of a spot light and flashing red strobes.
Now, prior to this, I’ve only ever been pulled over once, for a speeding ticket about 4 years ago. I know I wasn’t going that fast, so I can’t, for the life of me, figure out what’s going on.
I pull over, stop, shift to park, turn off the iPod and the stereo, and roll down the window. Using information and tips I’ve read about in the past, so as not to put the officer on the defensive (prolonging my stay at roadside any longer than I have to), I keep my hands on the wheel and make no move for my wallet (containing my license) or the glove compartment (my insurance and registration cards).
“Good evening,” the officer says.
“Good evening.”
He points his flashlight at the dashboard. “Do your lights work?”
I look down. I’ve been running with just my parking lights.
There was a long line at the drive through tonight. Because I’d had alternator troubles in late September, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the voltmeter on the dash.
When I’m stopped at a traffic light, or in a drive through lane, I try to keep the car in neutral, rather than in drive, with my foot on the brake. When I’m stopped and in neutral, the engine runs a smidge faster (about 2-300 rpm), and isn’t getting drag from powering the transaxle. The extra revs spin the alternator faster, and keep the battery voltage up.
There was a long line at the drive through. While I was stopped for so long, I’d turned off the headlights to reduce the draw on the battery, and just left the parking lights on.
Guess who forgot to turn his headlights back on.
After running my license, satisfied (by demonstration) that my headlights worked, he sent me on my way, telling me to be safe.
Cute giant sigh of relief, and a new mental reminder to pay more attention to my headlights when I fiddle with them. *whew*
