Before the Mudik Season, Do Not Neglect Headlight Maintenance

JAKARTA — The lighting system on vehicles, particularly headlights, plays an important role in supporting road safety.

Its function extends beyond night-time driving alone, but also in poor weather conditions such as during the current Mudik season.

Beyond serving as the primary lighting tool, headlights also function as a communication device between road users, though this is rarely known. Unfortunately, maintenance of these components is often neglected.

According to Mohan Kurniawan, head mechanic at an official Astra Peugeot workshop in Surabaya, when the headlight surface begins to yellow or becomes cloudy, light intensity automatically decreases and the beam becomes unfocused. This condition affects the driver’s field of vision, particularly when it is raining or driving at night.

“Cloudy and mouldy headlight conditions are generally caused by insufficient maintenance. If left unchecked, illumination will continue to deteriorate and compromise driving safety,” he said on Friday (27 February 2026).

However, this is not all. It is advisable to inspect the condition of the bulbs and electrical wiring, ensure there are no cracks that could allow water to enter, and perform headlamp polishing periodically to maintain clarity.

If the headlights have already become cloudy or yellowed, professional treatment at an official workshop is a more effective option. For Peugeot owners, maintenance can be carried out at official dealerships such as in Surabaya, which provide headlight maintenance services, including polishing and protective coating processes.

“In addition to the polishing process, we also apply a coating layer with a taro leaf effect so that water does not easily adhere and the headlights remain clear for longer,” said Mohan.