What Is Automatic Headlight On?

Posted on: Aug 2, 2023 | | Written by:

What Is Automatic Headlight On?

Published on August 02, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Road safety is a major concern, especially for India, since road accident cases are quite high in numbers. In 2021, more than 1.5 lakh lives were claimed by road mishaps. Among various vehicles, two-wheelers are at the highest risk of accidents. To raise the safety level, you can notice that various cities have made it strictly compulsory for the driver and the pillion rider to wear helmets. Moreover, vehicle companies are also resorting to designing safer vehicles than ever before.

For instance, a few two-wheelers are equipped with a feature where until you lift the stand, the vehicle doesn't start. Apart from these, the government has made it mandatory for all the new two-wheelers issued after 1st April 2017 to have AHO, that is, Automatic Headlight On.

Sometimes, even after all the precautionary measures, road mishaps may happen. Apart from this, fire, explosion, calamities, or theft can also damage or cause the loss of your vehicle. In such a case, your insurance company is there to cover your losses. So, you must get two wheeler insurance soon after you have purchased your bike.

What is Automatic Headlight On?

Also known as All-Time Headlight On, AHO (automatic headlight on) is a new mandatory feature for all the two-wheelers issued after 1st April 2017. It is primarily the headlight of the vehicle that remains on until you turn off the vehicle. This has been mandated to reduce the road mishaps of two-wheelers that occur due to broken or off headlights.

You may have seen some scooters have the headlight turned on all the time. This is because of this new feature. One can adjust the beam to high or low but cannot turn off the light. This helps spot your vehicle even when it's dark or foggy outside, thus, reducing the chances of colliding with others on the roads.

Importance of AHO

The automatic headlight on is a very helpful feature. Read the pointers below to know why your bike needs it:

1. Makes your presence felt

The number of vehicles on the road is increasing with each passing day. Since two-wheelers are compact vehicles in comparison to four-wheelers, buses, and trucks, it is sometimes difficult to get a view of them. However, an automatic headlight on will inform others on the road about your presence with its high beam.

2. Increased visibility on dusty or foggy days

Dust and fog can further decrease the visibility of a vehicle, especially two-wheelers. Hence, in such a case, if you have the automatic headlight on, it is easier for others on the road to know the exact location of the bike and drive accordingly.

3. Easy and safe overtaking

The AHO can also act as a pass light for you. This means the high beam of automatic headlight gets reflected in the rearview mirror of cars and bikes in front of you, thus making it easier for you to overtake.

AHO has undoubtedly, increased the safety of bikes and drivers. In order to further secure your bike, you may invest in comprehensive two wheeler insurance . It ensures you have financial security even in case of damages/losses to your bike.

How Does AHO Automatic Headlight Work?

The working or automatic headlight on is quite simple. You need not physically turn any button on or off since there is none for AHO. As the name suggests, this is an automatic light that gets turned on the moment you turn on the two-wheeler. Once you turn off the bike, the headlight also gets turned off. This means, that no matter if you are driving during the day or at night, this headlight will continue to glow.

In the daytime, you may keep the beams low and push them high when it's dark. During the regular services of your bike, the AHO is also checked and serviced. Usually, services are enough for AHO to run properly and they go well for a good time.

Is There Any Alternative To AHO?

The aim of the automatic headlight on is to let others on the road easily spot your vehicle. Currently, there is no exact alternative to AHO. However, maybe in the future, two-wheeler companies may come up with better ideas.

However, several bikes have been installed with daytime running lights, known as DRLs. Basically, DRLs are strips of lights that are installed in the console of the headlight. These are quite sharp lights. The purpose of these lights is to help your vehicle get spotted on the road. Even when the headlight is turned off, the light of these strips is bright enough for it to get spotted. Some of the bikes with daytime running lights are KTM 390 Duke, RC 390, Bajaj Dominar, etc.

Impact of AHO On Battery

Since the automatic headlight on runs on the battery of the two-wheeler, it is obvious that it drains the battery. Because AHO has been mandated recently, it is mostly seen in new bikes and scooters. However, owing to the fact that new models of two-wheelers are equipped with strong and durable batteries, the AHO barely impacts the battery life. So, you need not stress out about it. The bike companies are designing two-wheelers accordingly to adjust the working of AHO without disturbing the average life of the battery.

Pros and Cons of AHO

So far in the article, you may have come across a lot of AHO details. For better clarity, let us take a look at the below-mentioned pros and cons of the automatic headlight on:

1. Advantages of AHO

• You need not worry about the increased price of the vehicles since barely has the AHO mandatory affected the vehicles' overall price in the market

• AHO has enhanced the safety features of a two-wheeler and has also reduced the risk of road mishaps

• People riding in mountain or foggy areas have also highly benefited from this feature

• Not just for the bike but automatic headlight on helps others as well in driving safely on the roads.

2. Disadvantages of AHO

• A two-wheeler with a low-power battery may not be able to function at its best with AHO. Hence, it is essential for two-wheelers to have strong batteries that can easily handle the all-time headlight on

• AHO can contribute to global warming. Since new two-wheelers have this facility, it is highly likely that hundreds and thousands of bikes will have their headlights on even during the daytime, which may affect the environment.

Conclusion

An automatic headlight on is one of the safety measures for your bike. Apart from this, you must be careful while driving to avoid any unfortunate incidents. Last but not least, investing two wheeler insurance is equally important. As per the Motors Act of 1988, it is mandatory for all motor vehicles, including bikes, to have a minimum of third party two wheeler insurance . So, as per your preference, you may invest in an insurance plan and let your insurance company take care of your two-wheeler. Stay safe, and drive safe!

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

Technologies That Aim To Make Bike Riding Safer

How To Increase The Top Speed Of Your Bike?

Know How To Raise A Claim With A Temporary Vehicle Registration Number

All You Need To Know About Motorcycle Helmet Safety Rating

Things To Do When Traffic Police Tow Away Your Bike