Are modern headlights too bright?
Poll: Are modern headlights too bright?
Total Members Polled: 878
Discussion
I notice this thread is 5 yrs old, lights have become brighter in that time.
I sometimes question if my lights work at all, but they illuminate the road fine. I have driven with super bright xenons, and sure they make the road ahead seem like daylight, but at the margins of the beam less visibility. On reflection (pun intended) I'm happy to stick with old fashioned halogens.
It's the current crop of LEDs I feel really dazzle, hell I was even dazzled by a bicycle the other day, while walking the dog in daylight!
I sometimes question if my lights work at all, but they illuminate the road fine. I have driven with super bright xenons, and sure they make the road ahead seem like daylight, but at the margins of the beam less visibility. On reflection (pun intended) I'm happy to stick with old fashioned halogens.
It's the current crop of LEDs I feel really dazzle, hell I was even dazzled by a bicycle the other day, while walking the dog in daylight!
Interesting you say that. The regulation has just changed effective from October to allow all lamps <2000lm to have manual levelers instead of the auto ones as there are many complaints (I think mainly in the german market about drivers of LED lamps being flashed and being unable to adjust the beam downwards).
However your point about the beams not adjusting quick enough shouldn't really be an issue. The beam only adjusts relative to the road under the car (sensor is normally on the front and/or rear axle). So under heavy braking or acceleration it might adjust but if they're coming over the crest of a hill following you the beam won't adjust relative to the horizon to stop it from dazzling you. (If that makes sense).
However your point about the beams not adjusting quick enough shouldn't really be an issue. The beam only adjusts relative to the road under the car (sensor is normally on the front and/or rear axle). So under heavy braking or acceleration it might adjust but if they're coming over the crest of a hill following you the beam won't adjust relative to the horizon to stop it from dazzling you. (If that makes sense).
Part of the issue now is the increasing number of lights with very sharp cut off, so the slightest bump / brow in the road means that other road users go from being out of the beam to being in full intensity of light. Many times think I've been flashed and it's simply a vehicle coming the other way hitting a bump. That's from someone sat high up in a Land Rover, how car drivers suffer these days, especially in low sports cars, must be a painful.
In addition to being too bright you get 4x4s with headlights built at around 20ft off the ground with a flat beam pattern.
Anyone with a car less than 20ft tall gets blinded by them constantly ... all the time.
The beam specifications really should enforce a "light should be at Xm above ground Ym from car" rather than the current "beam should be flat from the headlights"
Wont somebody think of the people with tiny cars ...
Anyone with a car less than 20ft tall gets blinded by them constantly ... all the time.
The beam specifications really should enforce a "light should be at Xm above ground Ym from car" rather than the current "beam should be flat from the headlights"
Wont somebody think of the people with tiny cars ...
Clem2k3 said:
In addition to being too bright you get 4x4s with headlights built at around 20ft off the ground with a flat beam pattern.
Anyone with a car less than 20ft tall gets blinded by them constantly ... all the time.
The beam specifications really should enforce a "light should be at Xm above ground Ym from car" rather than the current "beam should be flat from the headlights"
Wont somebody think of the people with tiny cars ...
Agreed. As an MX-5 driver in a rural area, I get fed up with 4x4 lights blinding me.Anyone with a car less than 20ft tall gets blinded by them constantly ... all the time.
The beam specifications really should enforce a "light should be at Xm above ground Ym from car" rather than the current "beam should be flat from the headlights"
Wont somebody think of the people with tiny cars ...
I am one of those "German" car drivers, full LED's all round on the 6 (excluding the reversing lights and fog lights which are traditional bulbs). Internally as well they are the only other traditional bulbs.
Mine also has the full auto adaptive high beam blanking system where it tunnels the car in front, bends around and blanks for oncoming vehicles.
It has caught the odd one or two oncoming cars that thought they would not dip as it really does leave the off bit until the last second, however the right hand light is already being blanked or twisted a fair while before so the chances of actually getting blinded are very narrow.
I think some of it comes down to the fact that they start starring at the left hand one as it tends to stay less blanked ( most of the time focusing on the road side edge).
Those that have complained by dazzling me with their high beam, should probably learn that by the time they are drawing level the right hand headlight would be about 45 degrees to them and then turn fully off or turn the main beams fully off (including left hand headlight).
I do think some of it is down to gradients as well as I have had another few flash me, but ironically I was on dipped...and yes my headlights are aligned correctly...
But most of the time they have not caused a problem and I use adaptive high beam nearly every trip to work as it is on smaller A roads that are twisty so using the adaptive is a massive bonus.
When I get back in the MX5 for the one or two times lights are required my halogens in that feel like two small battery torches on the front.
Mine also has the full auto adaptive high beam blanking system where it tunnels the car in front, bends around and blanks for oncoming vehicles.
It has caught the odd one or two oncoming cars that thought they would not dip as it really does leave the off bit until the last second, however the right hand light is already being blanked or twisted a fair while before so the chances of actually getting blinded are very narrow.
I think some of it comes down to the fact that they start starring at the left hand one as it tends to stay less blanked ( most of the time focusing on the road side edge).
Those that have complained by dazzling me with their high beam, should probably learn that by the time they are drawing level the right hand headlight would be about 45 degrees to them and then turn fully off or turn the main beams fully off (including left hand headlight).
I do think some of it is down to gradients as well as I have had another few flash me, but ironically I was on dipped...and yes my headlights are aligned correctly...
But most of the time they have not caused a problem and I use adaptive high beam nearly every trip to work as it is on smaller A roads that are twisty so using the adaptive is a massive bonus.
When I get back in the MX5 for the one or two times lights are required my halogens in that feel like two small battery torches on the front.
The cabin of my Citigo is bathed in the warm glow of headlights more than ever now (and it's not even that low). In my experience the really 'clever' split-beam systems employed by BMW, Mercedes etc simply do not work well or quick enough. Have one a fair way back behind you on a deserted road at night and they simply don't recognise your car (and are still bright enough to be very off-putting), and when they get close every bump in the road gives you a moment of retina burn, particularly X5s etc.
I can't wait for 10-15 years time when shed of the week features a BMW with headlight assist or whatever it's called, all those systems are going to be a joy for the rest of on old poorly maintained cars.
I can't wait for 10-15 years time when shed of the week features a BMW with headlight assist or whatever it's called, all those systems are going to be a joy for the rest of on old poorly maintained cars.
Edited by ukaskew on Friday 4th November 12:14
Ninja59 said:
I do think some of it is down to gradients as well as I have had another few flash me, but ironically I was on dipped...and yes my headlights are aligned correctly...
When I get back in the MX5 for the one or two times lights are required my halogens in that feel like two small battery torches on the front.
I worry that "aligned correctly" is the problem ... the alignment specifications dont take into account how tall the car is or how high the headlights sit in it.When I get back in the MX5 for the one or two times lights are required my halogens in that feel like two small battery torches on the front.
On your second point, other lights feeling like candlepower after using brighter lights, this sadly is what has led us into this arms race for brighter and brighter lights. Nobody seems to stop and say "thats bright enough" and I guess we never will until car headlights are setting fire to the hedges alongside the roads ...
No relief.Ninja59 said:
I am one of those "German" car drivers, full LED's all round on the 6 (excluding the reversing lights and fog lights which are traditional bulbs). Internally as well they are the only other traditional bulbs.
Mine also has the full auto adaptive high beam blanking system where it tunnels the car in front, bends around and blanks for oncoming vehicles.
It has caught the odd one or two oncoming cars that thought they would not dip as it really does leave the off bit until the last second, however the right hand light is already being blanked or twisted a fair while before so the chances of actually getting blinded are very narrow.
I think some of it comes down to the fact that they start starring at the left hand one as it tends to stay less blanked ( most of the time focusing on the road side edge).
Those that have complained by dazzling me with their high beam, should probably learn that by the time they are drawing level the right hand headlight would be about 45 degrees to them and then turn fully off or turn the main beams fully off (including left hand headlight).
I do think some of it is down to gradients as well as I have had another few flash me, but ironically I was on dipped...and yes my headlights are aligned correctly...
But most of the time they have not caused a problem and I use adaptive high beam nearly every trip to work as it is on smaller A roads that are twisty so using the adaptive is a massive bonus.
When I get back in the MX5 for the one or two times lights are required my halogens in that feel like two small battery torches on the front.
People have no interest in your clever technology (that clearly doesn't work) they flash you because they're getting dazzled. It's not an arms race, you have a very selfish and arrogant attitude. Mine also has the full auto adaptive high beam blanking system where it tunnels the car in front, bends around and blanks for oncoming vehicles.
It has caught the odd one or two oncoming cars that thought they would not dip as it really does leave the off bit until the last second, however the right hand light is already being blanked or twisted a fair while before so the chances of actually getting blinded are very narrow.
I think some of it comes down to the fact that they start starring at the left hand one as it tends to stay less blanked ( most of the time focusing on the road side edge).
Those that have complained by dazzling me with their high beam, should probably learn that by the time they are drawing level the right hand headlight would be about 45 degrees to them and then turn fully off or turn the main beams fully off (including left hand headlight).
I do think some of it is down to gradients as well as I have had another few flash me, but ironically I was on dipped...and yes my headlights are aligned correctly...
But most of the time they have not caused a problem and I use adaptive high beam nearly every trip to work as it is on smaller A roads that are twisty so using the adaptive is a massive bonus.
When I get back in the MX5 for the one or two times lights are required my halogens in that feel like two small battery torches on the front.
ukaskew said:
The cabin of my Citigo is bathed in the warm glow of headlights more than ever now (and it's not even that low). In my experience the really 'clever' split-beam systems employed by BMW, Mercedes etc simply do not work well or quick enough. Have one a fair way back behind you on a deserted road at night and they simply don't recognise your car, and when they get close every bump in the road gives you a moment of retina burn.
I can't wait for 10-15 years time when shed of the week features a BMW with headlight assist or whatever it's called, all those systems are going to be a joy for the rest of on old poorly maintained cars.
Mine responds quick enough in my experience, some of it could be down to gradients or more simply the camera's view being obscured by dirt. I have never known it not to split when coming up behind another car.I can't wait for 10-15 years time when shed of the week features a BMW with headlight assist or whatever it's called, all those systems are going to be a joy for the rest of on old poorly maintained cars.
Regarding the bumps in the road that could be any car though as the beam will be distorted by the pothole etc. so even when the car in question is on dipped the shine upwards could be blinding you.
Try finding out how much one single headlight on 6 series is...then wince (or I can tell you 3,500 pounds).
PositronicRay said:
People have no interest in your clever technology (that clearly doesn't work) they flash you because they're getting dazzled. It's not an arms race, you have a very selfish and arrogant attitude.
How is it selfish, I have already dipped (or the beam twisted away from the car in question) and clearly it does work as most of the time I have never had a problem!I have had plenty of normal halogen lights blind me as well...
I find two things about headlights nowadays;
1. People load up their cars with junk and passengers, then fail to adjust the height of the headlights. They then sit on your rear offside quarter on a motorway or DC, shining the beam straight into your mirrors. Quite a few people I know didn't even know what the headlamp beam adjustment switch was for on their cars, so it's obviously not something that the mouthbreathers are even aware of.
2. SUVs mount their headlights higher up, which mean for regular cars you are more likely to be in the headlight beam. Especially annoying when again, they sit on your rear offside quarter on a motorway or DC, shining light into your mirrors.
Has it ever occured to anybody that the headlights on lorries are mounted very low, compared to the overall height of the vehicle? Why then, if a 44-tonne lorry can get away with headlights mounted half a metre from the road, does some crappy, f
k ugly SUV with a bh driving need headlights mounted up in the sky??
1. People load up their cars with junk and passengers, then fail to adjust the height of the headlights. They then sit on your rear offside quarter on a motorway or DC, shining the beam straight into your mirrors. Quite a few people I know didn't even know what the headlamp beam adjustment switch was for on their cars, so it's obviously not something that the mouthbreathers are even aware of.
2. SUVs mount their headlights higher up, which mean for regular cars you are more likely to be in the headlight beam. Especially annoying when again, they sit on your rear offside quarter on a motorway or DC, shining light into your mirrors.
Has it ever occured to anybody that the headlights on lorries are mounted very low, compared to the overall height of the vehicle? Why then, if a 44-tonne lorry can get away with headlights mounted half a metre from the road, does some crappy, f
k ugly SUV with a bh driving need headlights mounted up in the sky??Some headlights can be a bit squint inducing coming towards you, but in terms of seeing where you're going, even Xenons I find distinctly lacking to be honest. Especially on murky, unmarked and unlit B roads.
The former has never bothered me really and just like the sun, I avoid looking at them.
The former has never bothered me really and just like the sun, I avoid looking at them.
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