Why are my headlights dull in the first place?
Headlights used to be made from good old fashioned glass. However, in the last 20+ years vehicle manufacturers have turned to poly carbonate plastic because it is cheaper, easier to mold into interesting shapes and importantly, more impact resistant. However, UV rays, atmospheric pollutants and debris can all oxidize the plastic headlights, resulting in the cloudy, foggy, yellow appearance over time.
Are cloudy, foggy, yellowing headlights dangerous?
YES – Very simply they greatly reduce the light being omitted and therefore reducing your visibility. Putting your safety at risk as well as that of other road users. Depending upon how severe the headlight is, you may find that this could result in an MOT failure when it comes to test time!