The manual advises the light should turn off once the car reaches a speed just above idle. 'How many people do you know read the owner's manual? Very, very few.'Īccording to Matt Anderson, curator of transportation at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, one of the earliest dashboard warning lights was found in a 1933 Hudson.Īnderson points to a page in a 1933 Hudson Super Six owner's manual in which a generator warning light is referred to as 'the red jewel' on the car's dashboard. 'People often really don't understand this highly complex device they're motoring around in at very high speeds,' Arbelaez said. Yet, as vehicles grow increasingly complex, it's the human factor that can present hurdles. Until you don't.'Ī career spent conducting crash tests and researching automobile safety gives Arbelaez unique insight into how cars protect their occupants. 'I think vehicles today tend to be so good, and reliable, and smooth driving, that for many people you can ignore for a while and still get a very good driving experience. Raul Arbelaez, vice president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Vehicle Research Center, said. Reset a Check Engine Light at Your Own Risk.Everything You Need to Know about Car Safety Tech.
