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T/F: New Headlights Are Too Bright

Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:20 am
Posted by Patrick_Bateman
Member since Jan 2012
17823 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:20 am
I swear, some of the new vehicles' headlights are too damn bright. Bright to the point that oncoming traffic has to look away to avoid being blinded. Some of the blue ones and the white ones (all LED, I guess?) are just ridiculous. I mean, you get to the point where their dims seem brighter than other peoples' brights IMO. A vehicle only needs so much brightness - beyond that point, the risk to oncoming traffic outweighs the negligible benefit of these uber-bright headlights.

Is this just me, or do other people think the same thing? Does anyone else get headaches from driving at night? This is just something that's really started to bother me. Bash away. NSIAP

ETA: Maybe it has more to do with the angle of the headlights? Also, I'm not old. And FWIW (although it's irrelevant, I'm sure it'll be brought up), I drive a '12. But my headlights are not overwhelmingly bright - I've checked.
This post was edited on 12/6/14 at 8:28 am
Posted by Johnny3tears
Somewhere in La
Member since Jan 2012
2819 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:22 am to
Yeah I bet you feel dumb when you flash your lights at me and I hit you with the brights
Posted by 13SaintTiger
Isle of Capri
Member since Sep 2011
18315 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:22 am to
Sorry you drive a '96 beater
Posted by hendersonshands
Univ. of Louisiana Ragin Cajuns
Member since Oct 2007
160187 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:23 am to
I can never tell if some people are driving with their brights on or their lights are too damn bright, especially when they're behind you on a country road. frick those people.
Posted by SidewalkDawg
Chair
Member since Nov 2012
9958 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:24 am to
Posted by tigabait01
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2004
4768 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:26 am to
Maybe,

What is truly ridiculous are the lights on cop cars. You see those blue lights from 2 miles away on the interstate. Great. As you approach, you can't see shite because they are brighter than stadium lighting sitting right at eye level.
Posted by BayouBandit24
Member since Aug 2010
16680 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:29 am to
quote:

What is truly ridiculous are the lights on cop cars. You see those blue lights from 2 miles away on the interstate. Great. As you approach, you can't see shite because they are brighter than stadium lighting sitting right at eye level.


This bothers me too
Posted by Patrick_Bateman
Member since Jan 2012
17823 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:33 am to
quote:

What is truly ridiculous are the lights on cop cars.
This too. Absolutely. It's actually dangerous IMO.
Posted by wizziko
New Jersey Nets Fan
Member since Jan 2006
35881 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:33 am to
Some of those cars you see have lumens that are too damn high. Around 4300k is optimal for the xenon headlights buy anything higher appears blueish and too bright
Posted by Isabelle
Member since Jul 2012
2726 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:34 am to
I hate those lights and avoid night driving except two or three blocks away to and from the grocery.
Posted by GEAUXT
Member since Nov 2007
29777 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:37 am to
Most likely what you're referring to is people who put in the aftermarket xenons in a car that doesn't have projector head lights. It's actually illegal in LA now I believe
Posted by wildtigercat93
Member since Jul 2011
113328 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:39 am to
TRUE.

shite is blinding
Posted by LSUtigerME
Walker, LA
Member since Oct 2012
3850 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:40 am to
quote:

Some of those cars you see have lumens that are too damn high. Around 4300k is optimal for the xenon headlights buy anything higher appears blueish and too bright

So close. Lumens and color rating are actually inversely related. The higher the Kelvin rating, the lower the output/intensity.

4300K is usually the brightest output, closest to daylight, and what most OEM Xenons use.

OP, what you are likely seeing is NOT OEM equipment. HID kits and cheap conversions are the problem. The lights are not designed for the reflector/projector and the dispersion of light is both inadequate and dangerous. The cutoff is wrong, especially on reflector housings.

A properly designed housing, both Xenon and LED, are significantly brighter but not any more dangerous. This includes having the lights mounted at the correct height (jacked up trucks) and properly leveled. Europe actually requires HIDs to be self leveling.
Posted by EventHorizon
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2009
1040 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:43 am to
sometimes it's the angle that's wrong like you said. If it's factory headlights and they're aligned correctly then it's usually fine. The problems for me come from mainly two scenarios:
1. truck gets lifted but headlights don't get adjusted; nice aim right at my rear view mirror.
2. people putting after market lights (think blueish headlights) that belong in projectors in their old regular headlight housings instead. The light now gets reflected from the whole reflection of the housing that's desgined for a regular bulb.

Edit: LSUTigerME Already said it
This post was edited on 12/6/14 at 8:44 am
Posted by upgrayedd
Lifting at Tobin's house
Member since Mar 2013
136168 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:43 am to
quote:

Most likely what you're referring to is people who put in the aftermarket xenons in a car that doesn't have projector head lights. It's actually illegal in LA now I believe



This. If it is illegal, though, no one enforces it. Way more dangerous than expired inspection stickers. Pisses me off.
Posted by Patrick_Bateman
Member since Jan 2012
17823 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:45 am to
quote:

If it is illegal, though, no one enforces it. Way more dangerous than expired inspection stickers. Pisses me off.
Fricking A
Posted by wildtigercat93
Member since Jul 2011
113328 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:47 am to
i think theres a strong correlation between these lights, truck nuts, and a guy riding your arse because youre not going 20 over in a school zone
Posted by Jake88
Member since Apr 2005
71865 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:52 am to
I thought the lights were too bright during the last decade but they've dimmed a bit during the last few year's models.
Posted by Placebeaux
Bobby Fischer Fan Club President
Member since Jun 2008
51852 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:54 am to
Posted by austintigerdad
Llano County, TX
Member since Nov 2010
1884 posts
Posted on 12/6/14 at 8:55 am to
I agree that those new technology low beams are way too bright.

And, if that car is approaching from uphill it's even worse.

God help us when 99% of vehicles eventually get this.

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