Are modern headlights too bright?
Poll: Are modern headlights too bright?
Total Members Polled: 878
Discussion
-Pete- said:
f I shine my 5W LED torch in your eyes and you have one as well it won't blind you. Or lasers? We both have sharks with f****ing lasers? 
If I stand in bright sunshine for five minutes while you stand in a darkened room and then you join me outside, which of us will be dazzled? Do dipped headlights dazzle you in daylight? Try driving something with bright headlights, and compare it to driving something with dim ones, the difference in the dazzle from oncoming cars is striking.otolith said:
-Pete- said:
If I shine my 5W LED torch in your eyes and you have one as well it won't blind you. Or lasers? We both have sharks with f****ing lasers?
If I stand in bright sunshine for five minutes while you stand in a darkened room and then you join me outside, which of us will be dazzled? Do dipped headlights dazzle you in daylight? Try driving something with bright headlights, and compare it to driving something with dim ones, the difference in the dazzle from oncoming cars is striking.Anyway,
Agree with the points on both the colour and the sharp cut-off on HIDs, there's a lot of info here: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/...
Halogens are fine, Xenons, not so much.
Single carriageway NSL at night, pouring rain and oncoming cars with Xenon headlamps are not my best friend. Even worse if it's on a slope just as you both meet around the peak (make it twice as bad if they haven't anticipated you and leave you with a face full of main beam)- being temporarily blinded doesn't feel good on the road.
And I mean properly not being able to see much more than a few feet in front of the car, none of this 'DRLs dazzled me in the middle of the day...'.
Single carriageway NSL at night, pouring rain and oncoming cars with Xenon headlamps are not my best friend. Even worse if it's on a slope just as you both meet around the peak (make it twice as bad if they haven't anticipated you and leave you with a face full of main beam)- being temporarily blinded doesn't feel good on the road.
And I mean properly not being able to see much more than a few feet in front of the car, none of this 'DRLs dazzled me in the middle of the day...'.
Patrick Bateman said:
Halogens are fine, Xenons, not so much.
Single carriageway NSL at night, pouring rain and oncoming cars with Xenon headlamps are not my best friend. Even worse if it's on a slope just as you both meet around the peak (make it twice as bad if they haven't anticipated you and leave you with a face full of main beam)- being temporarily blinded doesn't feel good on the road.
And I mean properly not being able to see much more than a few feet in front of the car, none of this 'DRLs dazzled me in the middle of the day...'.
Close one eye before the other car rounds the bend then, car passes, open it again. Single carriageway NSL at night, pouring rain and oncoming cars with Xenon headlamps are not my best friend. Even worse if it's on a slope just as you both meet around the peak (make it twice as bad if they haven't anticipated you and leave you with a face full of main beam)- being temporarily blinded doesn't feel good on the road.
And I mean properly not being able to see much more than a few feet in front of the car, none of this 'DRLs dazzled me in the middle of the day...'.
Zwoelf said:
Close one eye before the other car rounds the bend then, car passes, open it again.
When I say blinded I don't mean that after the car has passed I still can't see. It's a case of all you can see is a little in front of the car and the rest is just headlight until they're passed.A particular bend on my commute means a car coming the other way has their headlights directly facing into your windscreen.
Part of the problem seems to be these new shape shifting HIDs, VAG (except Skoda) seem to be a particularly bad crop as it seems if they are on auto they lift up onto "main beam" until they detect something coming the other way. Of course by the time some of them have reacted it is too late. Not to mention main beam is utterly carp.
For some reason, as already mentioned Mundanos seem particularly bad.
However, again as already mentioned, if you apply a little common sense and turn your had slightly plus look along the n/s kerb if it's quite bad, so the light impinges on the less sensitive parts of the retina then less of a problem. imo.
For some reason, as already mentioned Mundanos seem particularly bad.
However, again as already mentioned, if you apply a little common sense and turn your had slightly plus look along the n/s kerb if it's quite bad, so the light impinges on the less sensitive parts of the retina then less of a problem. imo.
David87 said:
I don't think they're too bright. In fact I was reading about the optional full LED headlamps on the new Audi A6 the other day and they sound absolutely fantastic. Here's some info:
"Featuring dipped beam, main beam, daytime-running lights, indicators, static turning light, all-weather light and LED motorway light function; includes main beam assist for automatic switching between main and dipped beams, an all-weather light function to reduce the risk of the driver being dazzled when visibility is poor (in fog, rain or snow) and an additional motorway light which automatically increases headlight range at speeds above approximately 68mph; LED technology allows near daylight illumination of the road for increased safety and comfort; minimal energy requirements, long service life and particularly good visibility to other road users."
Porsche does similar with the bi-xenons on the new 991 911:
[i]"The Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) is available as an option for both models.
Its dynamic cornering light function swivels the headlights towards the inside of a bend, based on steering angle and road speed, in order to illuminate more of the road at tight bends and turns. Put simply, the road ahead is illuminated the moment you enter a bend.
The system also offers speed-sensitive headlight range control. With adaptive light systems, it is possible for the maximum range of the dipped beams to be increased as a function of the speed of the vehicle. PDLS takes care of this automatically in two stages. Stage 1 is the basic position for driving in city traffic, for example. Stage 2 is designed for driving at faster speeds, such as on the motorway. Above 130 km/h, the range is adapted again.
Another feature of PDLS is the adverse weather function, activated whenever the rear fog light is switched on. It reduces the effect of reflection phenomena in poor visibility conditions to avoid the risk of the driver being dazzled."[/i]
I appreciate they might be a little more dazzling for those coming towards you, but who cares about that when you're piloting something with a set of these attached to the front. :big laugh: On a more serious note, surely these speed-sensative beam adjustments will mean an end to dazzling?
Here's the Audi's ones:
I had a supplier visit and demo this technology and it's really very impressive stuff, phenomenal money though if I remember correctly!"Featuring dipped beam, main beam, daytime-running lights, indicators, static turning light, all-weather light and LED motorway light function; includes main beam assist for automatic switching between main and dipped beams, an all-weather light function to reduce the risk of the driver being dazzled when visibility is poor (in fog, rain or snow) and an additional motorway light which automatically increases headlight range at speeds above approximately 68mph; LED technology allows near daylight illumination of the road for increased safety and comfort; minimal energy requirements, long service life and particularly good visibility to other road users."
Porsche does similar with the bi-xenons on the new 991 911:
[i]"The Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) is available as an option for both models.
Its dynamic cornering light function swivels the headlights towards the inside of a bend, based on steering angle and road speed, in order to illuminate more of the road at tight bends and turns. Put simply, the road ahead is illuminated the moment you enter a bend.
The system also offers speed-sensitive headlight range control. With adaptive light systems, it is possible for the maximum range of the dipped beams to be increased as a function of the speed of the vehicle. PDLS takes care of this automatically in two stages. Stage 1 is the basic position for driving in city traffic, for example. Stage 2 is designed for driving at faster speeds, such as on the motorway. Above 130 km/h, the range is adapted again.
Another feature of PDLS is the adverse weather function, activated whenever the rear fog light is switched on. It reduces the effect of reflection phenomena in poor visibility conditions to avoid the risk of the driver being dazzled."[/i]
I appreciate they might be a little more dazzling for those coming towards you, but who cares about that when you're piloting something with a set of these attached to the front. :big laugh: On a more serious note, surely these speed-sensative beam adjustments will mean an end to dazzling?
Here's the Audi's ones:
*Al* said:
The only headlight that piss me off are the idiots that fit an aftermarket HID kit with normal reflector lenses, the bright blue light just bounces everywhere! All so it 'looks good', f
king morons, i'd personally like to take a hammer to them all.
Spot on.king morons, i'd personally like to take a hammer to them all.Most of them fit the 8k temp kits total glare everywhere!
I caught a London cabbie the other night in Hounslow a good un! Was in the truck so I let him have the lot on full beam.. 24v 75w + spot lights!
I saw his little bearded face light up along with his passengers.. No flash back on his part so I assume he just had a crappy single H4 kit.
Just for you AL, thought that might please you.
I think that half the problem is the car design. it gets packaged quite tightly under the bonnet, which makes it difficult to change the headlamp bulbs. Invariably, as I have seen on many occasions, the bulb gets fitted wrongly and the headlamp can't produce the required beam pattern causing the headlamp to dazzle.
Ok, on the way to pick my partner up from work I decided to do a non scientific observation study of people with glaring headlights.
First stretch of road was good as road works meant I was stationary, 30mph built up area.
11 cars...
2 with HIDs
9 with halogens
Only 2 caused glare and distraction and both where halogen.
Further down the road and I suspect 40-50 cars later. At least another 6 or 7 halogen powered headlights which appeared to be misaligned, most did seem to be of the reflector lamp design.
And at least 8 or 9 with HIDs, non actually caused glare although one when the car went over bumps did cause the beam cutoff to flicker into view.
I'd have to say, under these conditions the HIDs (most/all in projector lenses) seemed to have a far more focused and controlled beam spread which was better angled away from on coming cars.
First stretch of road was good as road works meant I was stationary, 30mph built up area.
11 cars...
2 with HIDs
9 with halogens
Only 2 caused glare and distraction and both where halogen.
Further down the road and I suspect 40-50 cars later. At least another 6 or 7 halogen powered headlights which appeared to be misaligned, most did seem to be of the reflector lamp design.
And at least 8 or 9 with HIDs, non actually caused glare although one when the car went over bumps did cause the beam cutoff to flicker into view.
I'd have to say, under these conditions the HIDs (most/all in projector lenses) seemed to have a far more focused and controlled beam spread which was better angled away from on coming cars.
I'm guessing you were driving on a flattish road though, which is not where the problem generally lies.
The threshold for being "night blinded" is obviously much higher on a road with street lights, too, because the contrast is less. It tends to be country B-roads which are the problem, in my experience - wide enough for two cars but not wide enough to simply head blindly slightly to the left of the oncoming headlights without risk of hitting the verge; straight enough to be travelling and significant speed so you can't just stop and wait for the other car to go past; and bumpy enough that even correctly aligned headlights spend half their time pointing horizontally.
The threshold for being "night blinded" is obviously much higher on a road with street lights, too, because the contrast is less. It tends to be country B-roads which are the problem, in my experience - wide enough for two cars but not wide enough to simply head blindly slightly to the left of the oncoming headlights without risk of hitting the verge; straight enough to be travelling and significant speed so you can't just stop and wait for the other car to go past; and bumpy enough that even correctly aligned headlights spend half their time pointing horizontally.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th November 09:00
kambites said:
I'm guessing you were driving on a flattish road though, which is not where the problem generally lies.
The threshold for being "night blinded" is obviously much higher on a road with street lights, too, because the contrast is less. It tends to be country B-roads which are the problem, in my experience.
I agree. Although by the shear number of halogen equipped cars causing more glare under my observations then it does make me wonder.The threshold for being "night blinded" is obviously much higher on a road with street lights, too, because the contrast is less. It tends to be country B-roads which are the problem, in my experience.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th November 08:58
On the way home after picking my partner up I did a similar observation, although this was on unlit B roads.
I did see one car which looked like it had HIDs (or very white/coloured halogens) that produced lots of glare, it was a Merc and it looked like non factory fit bulbs in reflector style lenses.
Other than that my observations where pretty much the same conclusion.
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