Annoying Headlights?

[GCroyle]

Guys,



I'm driving more in headlight required night driving and I have noticed a couple of things about headlights. Seems like I'm getting more high beam looking lights in oncoming cars and they get right into your annoyance range for impairing my vision.



Some are those blue lights, easier to ID but the ones that seem more common are those new hi tech lights in new cars. No clue what type they are, they're just annoyingly bright and HIGHER. I've been in the Dodge and the headliner gets lit from behind up at a distance too.



I was following my daughter one day in the Dodge called her and asked if my lights were in her annoyance zone, nope.



My imagination or do you guys see this too?



Gary

 

[Bob4x4]

Hid lights are probably what you are seeing. Oem's are legal aftermarkets are not

 

[RDHamill]

I believe that some of the replacement bulbs that are blue tinted (which are cheap) do not have the fillament in the exact right place. This puts the light source in the wrong location in relationship to the reflector, and often times the light shines down the road, but is not aimed correctly.
you can check this out http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/bad/bad.html for more info.

don't mistake zenon for "blue" bulbs.

thanks

 

[crispyboy]

I've seen the cheap blue, purple and yellow headlights. All have hurt my eyes. I have seen the HID lights on the luxury cars and they are really nice - put out tremendous amounts of light without hurting my eyes.
I did not know that aftermarket HID's were illegal. I assume they lack DOT approval.

 

[EGroeneveld]

Aftermarket HID are generally not DOT approved. But mostly you are dealing with state laws and how each individual cop interprets them..... when I put HID into some fog lamps on my 2005 Excursion all the boxes said ''offroad use only''

Some of the brighter light bulbs upgrades like Silverstair and PIAA bulbs say DOT Compliant...

The headlight rules need to be upgraded big time!

 

[GCroyle]

RDHamill,



That website has lots of info on this topic.



I don't know what the new vehicles are that seem most annoying, can't ID them when they are going the other way and the lights are distracting. One thing I was / am looking for are other motorists seeing the same annoyances from these headlights?



I recently installed SilverStars in my Bug and Dodge. Specifically asked for premium but not problem creating bulbs.



Thanks,



Gary

 

[p-Bar]

HID's ned to be in a "projector" housing . Look at BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and you will see a fish eye lens which directs the light and has cutoffs to keep the light off the oncoming traffic. Daniel Stern has a great explanation as RD has posted.

 

[Mark31]

Gary, as bad as I dislike the "modified" headlights, there is one thing that is harder for me to deal with and that is the high-powered blue strobes law enforcement is using. I don't understand the need to have lights visible for six miles and the need to try to blind people as they pass by a wreck or vehicle stop. Mark

 

[JLeake]

I for one find the HID lights as obnoxious and dangerous as the "blue" aftermarket lights. The slightest deviation from level and the oncoming traffic gets stabbed (aka blinded) in the eye by the HID's. While I am not a fan of more regulations EU style, the EU rules require self leveling HID's to not blind the oncoming drivers.

Drive in the SF Bay area, and you will get your fill of the blue lights and the HID's. We moved to Utah, there are fewer HID cars around here and the terrain while mountainous is not undulating like California SF Bay Area, where those lights are a real PITA.

I have often dreamed of getting a railroad oscillating headlight and putting on my truck, like the railroad air horns (more money than I want to spend on a novelty item).

 

[Jeffrey Howes]

More and more people. More and more vehicles on the road = motorists having to develop a greater tolerance towards these changes. This must be why that guy that sings that 80's song wears his sunglasses at night.

 

[GCroyle]

Gary, as bad as I dislike the "modified" headlights, there is one thing that is harder for me to deal with and that is the high-powered blue strobes law enforcement is using. I don't understand the need to have lights visible for six miles and the need to try to blind people as they pass by a wreck or vehicle stop. Mark

Mark,

I think we all have to be on the side of saftey for Law Enforcement, but, yes I have observed the same blinding moment.

Gary

 

[GCroyle]

JLeake,
Jeffery,

Well, it doesn't make it any less annoying but glad to hear that I'm not totally certified wacko on this annoyance.

Gary

 

[JLeake]

I know of many people who have expressed the same annoyance, just not on TDR (not TDR members or
even own a Dodge Cummins)

 

[Larry Willard]

Gary, as bad as I dislike the "modified" headlights, there is one thing that is harder for me to deal with and that is the high-powered blue strobes law enforcement is using. I don't understand the need to have lights visible for six miles and the need to try to blind people as they pass by a wreck or vehicle stop. Mark

I have to totally agree.

 

[p-Bar]

Gary, as bad as I dislike the "modified" headlights, there is one thing that is harder for me to deal with and that is the high-powered blue strobes law enforcement is using. I don't understand the need to have lights visible for six miles and the need to try to blind people as they pass by a wreck or vehicle stop. Mark

Those lights are a bulls eye for the drunks