revtothelimit - motorbike forum

I wasn't surveyed but seems I'm not alone in thinking some modern headlights are too bright, especially when coupled with SUVs

https://news.sky.com/story/headlight-gl ... n-13045326

I'm all for being able to see, but sometimes especially on rural roads standard headlights are as bright as old main beams. I've been temporarily blinded with the glare a few times in recent years.

as it ever was so shall it ever be

http://www.lightmare.org/Media.htm

If they're pointing down it don't matter how bright they are.

Supermofo wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:09 pm ...headlights are too bright, especially when coupled with SUVs

I had one behind us waiting at the lights the other day - it's headlights were perfectly at the same height as our rear screen, shining straight through.

I thought we were being abducted by aliens for a second.

Dodgy69 wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:57 pm If they're pointing down it don't matter how bright they are.

It does of the opposing vehicle is approaching a crest, so its lights are pointing at the sky.

And reflection from wet roads.

MrLongbeard wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:20 pm as it ever was so shall it ever be

http://www.lightmare.org/Media.htm

Well that's shed some light on the issue.

How many accidents are caused by people not being able to see 'cause it's too dark I wonder.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 8:25 pm

MrLongbeard wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:20 pm as it ever was so shall it ever be

http://www.lightmare.org/Media.htm

Well that's shed some light on the issue.

How many accidents are caused by people not being able to see 'cause it's too dark I wonder.

Very rarely not being able to see something. Perhaps actually going to fast for how far they can see?

Dodgy69 wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:57 pm If they're pointing down it don't matter how bright they are.

You obviously haven't faced one on a wet road then...

I reckon our eyesight just deteriorates with age and night driving exaggerates this problem. I wonder how many young folk have a problem with this, misaligned lights aside.

Dodgy69 wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 10:00 pm I reckon our eyesight just deteriorates with age and night driving exaggerates this problem. I wonder how many young folk have a problem with this, misaligned lights aside.

Yup. Our lenses gradually stop light entering the eye. IIRC at 60 you need 3x the amount of light to see the same in low light conditions as an 18 y.o.

That means the pupil opens wider, with consequent problems.

Plus, cataracts and (unavoidable, irreversible) loss of peripheral vision ...

I drive along unlit roads for my commute pretty often. I used to do it every day in winter, but WFH alot now.

Never been blinded by lights. Yeah I have to look away sometimes (follow the white line on the left ) but I've never lost my sight once the car has passed.

39 BTW

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:23 am
Never been blinded by lights. ... but I've never lost my sight once the car has passed.

No, you won't have been. Ironically, perhaps, you might have been dazzled by glare

AKA 'disability glare'.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:23 am 39 BTW

Just wait, sunshine (or lampshine), just you wait

Dodgy69 wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 10:00 pm I wonder how many young folk have a problem with this

Numerous young people I know have complained about it. The dazzle from LEDs is problematic even for many younger people, particularly where it’s wet or the road is hilly.

Irony is, LEDs are often actually dimmer than the older HID stuff. That's why LED headlamps don't have to have washers, the requirement for that is based on the number of lumens. LEDs can have a more tailored beam pattern than HID ('cause they're not a single bulb) so you can 'light up more' with less light.

Or you can do what Ford did with the Mustang, and just fit down rated bulbs on European models to get around the law about washers

Really don't find LED headlights much of an issue - it's the knobheads that fit HID or LED lamps in to non-projector headlights that are the bigger problem. Our last 5 cars have all had adaptive LED headlights and have never been flashed.

A lot of the LED systems now are pixel / adaptive technology - on my old Merc the LEDs would come on and off in stages, effectively wrapping around oncoming vehicles or those you follow. Our current Volvo, the LED headlights almost appear dim when seeing them in the rear view mirror of a car in front or when approaching but lay a nice amount of light on the ground

v8-powered wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:14 am A lot of the LED systems now are pixel / adaptive technology

Got that in my car...2 megapixel resolution on my headlights. That's more than my TV

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:09 am Irony is, LEDs are often actually dimmer

IIRC it's more about the 'colour', with the blue-white causing more glare.

Horse wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:20 am

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:09 am Irony is, LEDs are often actually dimmer

IIRC it's more about the 'colour', with the blue-white causing more glare.

For me it's more about there being more SUV / X-Over style body types on the road where the headlights are higher / inline with the eyes of a driver in a regular car

"LEDs are prone to be more intense and hence the long-lasting blindness," according to a comment on the RAC website.

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motori ... ght-glare/

Hot_Air wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 10:09 am "LEDs are prone to be more intense and hence the long-lasting blindness," according to a comment on the RAC website.

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motori ... ght-glare/

Mutter mutter ...