Headlights Now the Law on Main Alaskan Highways
Road signs are being added to all four main highways in Alaska.
After the recent death of a Girdwood man along Seward Highway, Alaska now has an official record of 41 deaths resulting from 37 fatal crashes on the road. The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities identified 4 reasons behind it: Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Emergency Response. Therefore as a response, the department has been busy reminding drivers of the importance of using headlights by spreading signs across Alaska’s main roads.
“This isn’t about writing people tickets,” said Captain Hans Brinke, Commander of B Detachment. “It is about safety. Having lights on allows oncoming traffic to see your vehicle and take appropriate action. Driving with headlights on is one thing motorist can do to reduce the odds of a head on collision.”
The Alaska State Troopers also remind the public of the basic road safety measures that should be conscientiously followed by motorists to avoid more accidents on highways.
Director of the Alaska State Troopers, Col. Keith Mallard, advised Alaskans to always to their part by observing safety precautions such as wearing of seatbelts and ensuring the other passengers to do the same as well.
“…drive your car as if someone you cared about was in the cars around you. It costs us nothing to operate our cars in a safe manner, but could cost us everything if we do not,” he added.
A lot of Alaskans are aware that with the entry of summer comes the increase of traffic and commute times. As a responsible driver, one should anticipate the possibility of increase road accidents as well. During the recent road fatalities in the state, about 50% of those who died in accidents concerning the proper usage of seatbelts were not wearing seatbelts when the accidents happened.
In Alaska, code now requires headlights to be utilized on all roadways with posted signs requiring the use of headlights.
The Law:
“Motorists in Alaska must drive with headlights on where a roadway is posted to do so.
13 AAC 04.010. When lights are required
(a) Every vehicle traveling on a highway or other vehicular way or area within the state must illuminate lights
(1) between one half hour after sunset and one half hour before sunrise; or
(2) at any other time when, because of insufficient light or other atmospheric conditions, persons or vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1000 feet.
(b) Stop lights, turn signals, and other signaling devices must be illuminated as required by this chapter.
(c) Every vehicle traveling on a highway or vehicular way or area must illuminate lights when traveling on any roadway that is posted with signs requiring the use of headlights.
(d) For the purposes of (c) of this section, lights include low intensity headlights and daytime running lamp devices that meet the standards in 49 C.F.R. 571 (revised as of August 29, 1996), if the headlights are not otherwise required under (a)(1) or (2) of this section.”
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