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The problem is not the brightness, IMHO. The real problem is that, at least in the US, no one seems to care about keeping their headlights aimed properly, whic
by lutorm 13y ago
The problem is not the brightness, IMHO. The real problem is that, at least in the US, no one seems to care about keeping their headlights aimed properly, which in combination with the abundance of trucks with headlights mounted higher than a normal driver's head, leads to insane glare. As much as mandatory vehicle inspections are annoying, this would be my one reason to support them. (Not that it seems to matter, here in HI they have annual inspections, but the inspection facilities don't seem to give a damn.)
Of course, a brighter misaligned headlight is worse, but an old halogen headlight creates plenty of glare if misaligned, while a super bright headlight is fine as long as it's not aimed at your eyes.
- bradleyland 13y agoI'm not sure about other countries, but all vehicles sold with HID (the bright blue headlights that many people find annoying) headlights in the US must come with an auto-leveling system. I'm almost 100% certain that the standards are the same or higher in Europe.
- thaumasiotes 13y agoThe fact that (as you point out) those bright blue headlights are especially offensive to many people would suggest that the auto-leveling system is not doing its job.
- pmiller2 13y agoI find the blue headlights annoying because they're blue, not because they're bright.
- sliverstorm 13y agoThe more blue the lights are, the greater the chance they are not factory; some schmuck stuck HID bulbs in halogen housings. This means no auto-leveling, no proper beam focusing, etc. It is already widely known that doing so is a Very Bad Idea (tm), but some people have absolutely no deference to their fellow drivers on the road.
- bradleyland 13y agoThe OP said, "The real problem is that, at least in the US, no one seems to care about keeping their headlights aimed properly..." I'm only pointing out that proper adjustment isn't the issue. The matter of HID headlight annoyance is well-trodden territory in automotive circles. Owning a car with them equipped, I appreciate the additional visibility. On the flip side, living in an area where they are common, I appreciate that they can be blinding if you're caught in the beam.