Headlights Rant

[Maximumbob54]

Everyone,

Please go turn on your vehicle’s headlights. Now go stand in front of your vehicle and stare into the lights. Most of you will think to yourself, “Gee, these are pretty bright and this is hurting my eyes.” If you drive a Toyota Tundra, pretty much any BMW, Mercedes, Acura or any other projector, pale blue tinted, or xenon type headlamp then I hope you notice that you are now temporarily blind. Now I want to remind everyone that the two to three second following distance is a minimum rule for your safety. Add in the brightness of your Star Wars Death Star Super Laser headlight beams and it would be really nice if you would back off a little more. If you find that the person in front of you starts to slow down and you are baring right down on them then it is unlikely they are trying to brake check you. They are likely frantically trying to redirect three mirrors that are reflecting your blinding lights from their face. You have now removed their ability to see where they are driving or worse where they are turning. If this is too much to ask then it is likely you have personal issues and should seek further guidance from a few of your peers as to your current driving mindset and habits behind the wheel. And if your are trying to speed to make sure you make it on time in those last few minutes then do yourself a favor and set your alarm ten minutes earlier or stop hitting the snooze button. I hope this helps others out there who are suffering from the same problems as me. If you think that you may be causing the problem then mull over my words for a few more moments. If you are laughing at this thinking you are merely acting out Newton’s First Law of Motion then also understand that his Third Law of Motion also applies.

Written by one very unhappy Bob whose hands were shaking with anger as he typed this.

 

[JcMack]

They (whoever they is)relaxed the output allowable of headlights. What I'm saying is it used to be illegal to have over a specified candlepower output. In '90 I bought a new Toyota PU that came equipped with High Output headlights. Even with headlights adjusted correctly, and low beams selected, oncoming people were always flashing there lights at me. The height of the headlights on a PU are a real irritation to people in cars. The would include the miriad of SUV's and Crossover vehicles. I got caught in a snowsstorm one night on a 150 mile trip. The headlights on the Toyota were so bright they were reflecting off the snow like it was a wall of white. I could only see a foot ahead of the truck. I used to pound up and down the highways at least 200 miles a day until last year. Those blue tinted lights are real pain. If you lived and did most of your driving on rural roads, I can see a necessity for high output lights. 90% of the roads around town here are lit up well enough you could drive without lights. Most of the vehicles with blue tinted lights have big shiny wheels and are playing music that sounds like gym shoes rolling around in a dryer.

 

[nawilson]

Tell it!! And half of them are too busy texting to dim their high beams!

 

[oldman45]

Many states have laws against Europoean headlights. It is like many other traffic laws, seldom enforced.

 

[The Big D]

Those drivers whose headlights are "blinding" others are solely at fault...not the vehicle manufacturer!!!

I have the aforementioned high intensity discharge (HID)headlights on both my vehicles. The Corvette is quite low to the ground...the Range Rover is relatively high. I HAVE NEVER "BLINDED" ANOTHER DRIVER BY VIRTUE OF MY HEADLIGHTS BEING ON AS THEY ARE PROPERLY ADJUSTED.

Now, if I encounter another vehicle with my high beams illuminated they will surely notice. But responsible drivers dim their lights, as necessary.

Please do not blame the manufacturers; blame irresponsible drivers.

Be safe.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Therein lies the problem...

The bulbs may be high output, but the reflectors inside the light are USDOT spec, which really is a bad design requirement.

If you truly have headlights that are designed correctly, they will have a definite "cut off" at a specific height so they will not blind oncoming drivers.

Most European spec lights have this feature, but in the case of English spec, the passenger side cuts off higher than the driver's side- so if you were to order those headlight assemblies from England and install them on a US vehicle which has the passenger and driver sides reversed- oncoming drivers will be blinded. Most of the people that think they are getting cool "Euro spec" lights order them from England or Scotland and since they drive on the wrong side (Must have been a Lucas Electrics innovation! ) it's incorrect for American cars!

Bad design and overpowered bulbs are the problem. Don't worry, as most people that install those overpowered (typically more than 55W) bulbs will find their headlight wiring harness fried and the plug onto the bulb and perhaps the reflector melted in a short time, costing big $$$$ to repair or replace.

 

[dkees]

i just purchased a Volkswagen Tiguan and it has the HID lights. I assumed they were correctly adjusted to not be a hazard to oncoming traffic. Thanks for the post, I'll check the alignment immediately.

 

[bitstream]

My old boss back when I worked during High School taught me how to fix those drivers pretty simply. Just reach up and adjust your rearview to reflect their light right back at them. About a second later they suddenly fall far astern of you or go around you. Works every time.

 

[TACC1]

I'll Join the Rant!

I'm on the road virtually every day/night. Most of the driving is on the Interstate. I'm always getting dazzled by cars and Semi's that are running their high beams. Not just when alone, but in heavy traffic as well. I assume these are younger drivers that think that driving is
a right, and not a privilege. That means that other drivers have to
put up with anything they want to do. After all, they have a RIGHT
to be there. At night, now, with electric adj. mirrors, I turn them to shine above me, not at following drivers, or I use smoked color limo film on the inside of my windows. "Course then I can't see what's back there, but they'll figure it out if I try to avoid a deer. Just
another down-side to night-driving. TACC1

 

[REM 3200]

I also don’t like the blue tint of them. Only emergency vehicles are supposed to have blue lights.

 

[doc540]

AND TURN OFF YOUR DARNED "DRIVING LIGHTS" IN TOWN.

INCONSIDERATE IDIOTS!!!

I swear, I actually called a friend of mine who is an aviation mechanic and asked about installing aircraft landing lights in my cars fog/driving light housings. Luckily, they won't work.

Most new trucks come with clear, white, factory "driving lights" (NOT amber "fog lights") and the are BLINDINGLY BRIGHT!!!!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[feralmerril]

Let`s ratchet this up a couple notchs. How many of you have been blinded by semi truck trailers or tankers that have the back end polished up like a mirror? If you are following one east in the afternoon with the sun behind you it`s troublesome. I dont see how laws on it havent been passed!

 

[redlevel]

We need some of the old bumper stickers I recall seeing on rear bumpers in the 60s. DIMMIT DAMMIT!!

 

[MTS Cop]

I have the complete opposite problem with my Pontiac Grand Prix. I feel like I have two MagLites taped to the hood. Actually that would be an improvement. I've installed brighter bulbs (Silverstars), tried adjusting every which way and they still, well, suck. In the city it really isn't an issue but driving upstate is kind of a nightmare. My 30 year old Cadillac with sealed beams is 1000% better. I like old cars.

 

[paladin42]

My wife walks in front of the truck carrying a lantern.

 

[novalty]

My biggest complaint is for Dodge Ram owners with fog-lamps. Does Dodge make it so both have to be on at the same freaking time. Looks like a wall of lights at night.

 

[Rugskipper]

I have the complete opposite problem with my Pontiac Grand Prix. I feel like I have two MagLites taped to the hood. Actually that would be an improvement. I've installed brighter bulbs (Silverstars), tried adjusting every which way and they still, well, suck. In the city it really isn't an issue but driving upstate is kind of a nightmare. My 30 year old Cadillac with sealed beams is 1000% better. I like old cars.

I have the same problem with my GP. And you bring up a good point, why not bring back the old sealed beams? That way you could have real low beams for low, and death rays only when you need them.

 

[snake charmer]

I run my motorcycle with the HI beams on during dayligt hours to make sure I'm seen. If it bothers you then you have seen me.

 

[writerinmo]

My Neon came with the factory yellowed headlights. I replaced the entire assemblies with aftermarket Diamond Clear ones that came with 150 Watt bulbs! Standard hi beams are supposed to be 80, dims are 55. With the new lenses and all, this was WAY overkill, so I went back to some good halogen white bulbs but only 55/80, and I can see fine even on dark backroads.

But one question... what idjit in the Dodge camp came up with the idea that the driving lights should only work when the DIM headlights are on??? I want the additional light when I have my brights on, not when I'm dimming them for oncoming traffic, makes no sense to me, so I installed an aftermarket harness that lets ME choose when they are on.

 

[doc540]

My biggest complaint is for Dodge Ram owners with fog-lamps. Does Dodge make it so both have to be on at the same freaking time. Looks like a wall of lights at night.

That's what I'm talking about. They totally blind me! GM trucks, too!!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

 

[DeadAye]

I run my motorcycle with the HI beams on during dayligt hours to make sure I'm seen. If it bothers you then you have seen me.

Since it's against the rules to make disparaging remarks about others - I won't.
BUT
Those bright lights are just as annoying in the daytime as at night and you really aren't doing yourself any favors by blinding me

Oh yeah - I've been riding motorcycles since 1966 so it's not like I don't like scooter people. So why in the world are you trying to bother me and everyone else on the road?

 

[photocosmo]

We need more government regulation to insure that everyone is kept in the dark!

 

[blackflag]

It's like somebody in the last few years figured out, "hey, we have the technology to make these things brighter!"

Well, no ****. They were that brightness in the past for a reason. It's so other drivers aren't blinded.

Then the other end of the spectrum...people putting black covers on their lights. You know what happens when you cover up your lights? I can't see them.

 

[blackflag]

I run my motorcycle with the HI beams on during dayligt hours to make sure I'm seen. If it bothers you then you have seen me.

It also blinds me. So don't complain if something happens and you get hit because I can't see you because I'm temporarily blinded. I'm not being a smart ***, I have literally wondered why motorcycle riders think it would be good to blind me when they're riding near me.

If it's daylight, I can see you.

 

[David LaPell]

I remember when I used to put lift kits in all my 4 wheel drives that the first thing I would do was go find a building with a flat wall and park close enough with the headlights on so I could lower them down the same number of inches as I had lifted said vehicle. The problem is now is that these places like Walmart and where ever these guys get those ultra blinding lights install know nothing about adjusting those lights, and if they do have someone to adjust them, they look like Jack Elam and it won't get done right in the first place.

 

[JcMack]

The problem is now is that these places like Walmart and where ever these guys get those ultra blinding lights install know nothing about adjusting those lights, and if they do have someone to adjust them, they look like Jack Elam and it won't get done right in the first place.

I am president of the Jack Elam fan club.

 

[sullybr549]

Heck, I hardly use my high beams and rarely use the driving lamps on my truck. If I am behind someone at night I will flip my lights up and down to let them know my high beams are not on.If the person in front of me slows down ,I get closer till I can pass.Oh yeah, all my mirrors automatically dim . If lights at night really bother you that much wear sun glasses or stay home on the porch.

 

[Armyphotog]

Memphis, TN is the only city I know of, that checks your headlight's directional beam and requires they be properly adjusted downward on low beams to past their safety inspection. Good idea.

 

[rockopr]

I put a pair of those on my Ford truck ,but i carry the one's that are legal(55W) then i tilted the front lights and adjusted them a little bit lower than usual so they point directly to the road in front of me and not to the person in front or upcoming traffic.The problem is a lot of *******s installing the 100W wich is illegal and leaving the headlights in the standard position.For them i also installed 2 Hella's with 150 watts bulbs and a separated switch that i use offroad for reverse and when i'm towing my boat , pointing straight back so they can get an idea of how i feel when they're pointing their lights at me.I just turn them on and just keep the exact distance to see their faces cursing at me,that usually make them change lanes or back up and dim their lights.if it doesn't do the job i just slow down let them pass me and then i give them the four i have in front for a little while.to me it is just a little payback,maybe i may get yelled at a little bit here,i'm sorry but my grandpa always told me that sometimes what people do to bother someone is sometimes what bothers them the most,that's why i chose to do it....sorry again guys.....

 

[cowart]

If you truly have headlights that are designed correctly, they will have a definite "cut off" at a specific height so they will not blind oncoming drivers.

That is correct - I have a stock 2009 Hyundai Sonata, which has the brightest headlights of any vehicle I have ever driven. They cut off in a horizontal line that looks like it was drawn with a ruler, and I have never had oncoming drivers flash at me.