Around Chicago I believe its rude,ignorant drivers that feel its a status symbol to have as many headlights as possible and have them all turned on. Also replacing headlight bulbs with bulbs the housings were not intended for.

I wish LE would enforce the law when it comes to this.

All the new bulbs look like they are high beams

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
Nobody bothers to get their headlights aimed after lifting their trucks or replacing stock headlights with the sooperdooper grass burners.

I have not found anywhere that actually is set up to align headlights any more.

I think part of the problem is that vehicles have a faster average speed than in the past and there is a need to see farther in front of the car. Divided highways with sight barriers are best, because then use of high beams is only limited by having other vehicles immediately in front of you (and they can often use dimming mirrors to keep from being blinded). In the city, available street lighting is often insufficient to see pedestrians, especially non-reflective ones wearing dark clothing (which seems to be de rigueur in my area). I was trained to be polite with my high beams, but there are times when it is essential to use them even when not polite.

flashguy

A lot of these new cars just have crazy bright headlights that *look* like they are idiots running their high beams 24/7 but aren’t.

Several times I’ve been nearly blinded by someone and I flip my high beams on in retaliation and they flip their REAL high beams on...HOLY SHIT!

Is it these new LED headlights? They are VERY bright, too bright if you ask me.

Many years ago there was a proposal that all vehicles use polarized windshields with the axis running diagonally at 45° from lower left to upper right, and that headlights also be polarized to beam their light with the same polarization. Light reflected from a vehicle's headlights would have the right polarization to come through the windshield to give visibility, but direct light to an oncoming vehicle would have a 90° rotation and would be largely blocked by that vehicle's windshield. This technique would actually work very well, but it would be expensive to implement and would require every manufacturer to participate. Not practical.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
Since we're on the subject...

PUT YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON IN THE RAIN!

Wipers on? Then your headlights should be also.

It’s not just you. Part of the problem is Fed DOT guidance on headlights is very outdated. The other problem is all the clowns who change the bulbs but not the reflector or headlight assembly. Also laws not being enforced so people drive around with LED light bars, etc that are technically illegal. They use lighting intended for off-road use but it’s being operated on the highway. Like everything a little courtesy would go a long way, but there is none anymore

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Instead of self driving cars, perhaps we could just make headlights have a little more intelligence so that when people 'upgrade' or modify or fix their lights or lift their trucks or whatever, the headlights have some intelligence built in to self-adjust and make sure that they aren't blinding on-coming traffic.

Doesn't seem like it would be that hard.

Self blinking blinkers would be great.

Headlights on new cars are blinding even on low IMO. I drive a car however, in a pickup it may be different.

I upgraded to a top end model tundra in order to get the LED headlights. They are super bright even on low beam, the highs are amazing. This truck has a feature to auto dim the highs when meeting oncoming traffic and it works well. Large signs cause the feature to activate due to reflected light and can be annoying, I don't use it due to this. There is also a rotary dial to manually aim the lights down incramentally when loaded heavy or hauling a trailer.

I stay attentive and turn off the highs when I see cab lights from big trucks cresting hills. It's pretty easy to detect an oncoming vehicle before rounding a turn or approaching a hill if you are paying attention.

I flash drivers when it's raining or too dark to go without the lights on, it is dangerous, especially with a dark vehicle.

Then there are the tools who don't adjust aim for to compensate for lifts or permanent weight added to trucks. Also cheap Vatozone hid's or led conversions. D-bags.

The problem around here are the compensators with the jacked up trucks and jeeps who never re-aim their headlights.

A lot of pinheads around here think it's OK to run your high beams when it's raining, day or night.

This thread has the feel of something that might better suit the 'What's your deal!' section.

I've noticed this phenomenon a bit more lately too.

Often, I think it's the 'bubbas' with amped up LEDs and what-not, but there also seems to be a lot of mindless/inconsiderate/night-blind-shouldn't-be-driving individuals out there solely running with high beams all the time.

When my F-150 needed a new headlight I bought the same as factory (replaced both) but these newer bulbs were much brighter. I'm always getting some guy or girl in a car without tinted windows in road rage because of my lights. One guy wanted me to pull over so he could beat me up (a really bad move on his part). I get flashes as I pass oncoming as they think I have high beams. So the last time I needed headlamps being a real A$$Hole I bought the brightest ones on low beam. So if the other drivers want scream at me or flash I just go to high beam and blow them out. Yes I know I'm a bad person. Chris

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
Since we're on the subject...

PUT YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON IN THE RAIN!

I don’t get the four ways on in heavy rain. Especially if they’re traveling same speed as everyone else. Everyone else can see that it’s raining and your driving slower. I really don’t get the idiots that turn their 4 ways on in the rain but leave the headlights off. That is just plain stupid. At least the drivers behind you might be able to see you but the guy in front of or just beside you about to change lanes and take you out can’t see you.

quote:

Originally posted by roadkill:

I don’t get the four ways on in heavy rain. Especially if they’re traveling same speed as everyone else.

For some reason, this is really popular with the dim-wit drivers around here.

Driving in the passing lane, heavy rain starts, idiots slow way the hell down, ( while getting passed on the right, ) flip on their four-ways and crawl on in the passing lane.

At least move the hell over to the right lane and if you're so intimidated by percipitation, pull all the way off the road until it stops.

Yeah, this is a regular complaint of mine, too.

Idiots that refuse (or are too stupid) to dim their head lights. Or the ones that replace them with newer and brighter ones, but then do not get them adjusted.

I do not understand the comments that it is so hard to adjust headlights. Where I get our vehicles inspected they do adjust the lights if they are out of adjustment or improperly aimed.

Up in Washington state, many years ago the state patrol used to write citations for those drivers who did not dim their lights.

Maybe it is time for all LEOs to start doing it again.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
I installed a 30" Baja Design set of LED lights that fit perfectly in the grill of my Super Duty because the stock lights on Ford trucks suck.
I only use it when off-road .....except when some yahoo drives with their high beams on then I blast them!

They learn real quick. You can literally read a book 1/4 mile away with the lumens this sucker puts out. They are designed to run the Baja 1000 where the trucks blast down the desert at 80 plus mph..

Reminds me of my BIL about twenty years ago. He had some Baja lights that he flashed on at a car running with high beams on. Turns out it was a UHP Trooper who pulled a u-turn and then ticketed by BIL for flashing the Bajas. What a douche. It was the same trooper who later stopped after my wife ran off the road (single vehicle accident) with the minivan on its side with two toddlers still in seats. His only help was to write her a ticket and then drive off. Everybody was happy when that asshole retired.

I tend not to go out at night. However, last week I took my wife and daughter to a play and noticed that many of the cars I was meeting had really BRIGHT lights. I mean painful bright. Must be the new style lights.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
The problem around here are the compensators with the jacked up trucks and jeeps who never re-aim their headlights.

Same in my neck of the desert.
Also with the newer "white" bulbs (different color temps, older lights were more yellow) makes things brighter.


Lateck,