Lights too bright?

droopsnoot

almillar wrote: »

That's how it started, but it's actually Xenon headlights that MUST have self levelling. And also headlight washers. That's part of the reason that retrofitted ones may/may not (let's not get into that) be illegal.
If you think you have Xenon lights, and you have a levelling wheel, you have a problem.

Absolutely right - in fact I've just failed (and now passed after repair) an MOT because the self-levelling had failed on my Xenons. On mine (and I would imagine on most), when the car detects that a level sensor has failed, it goes into failsafe mode which aims the headlamp beam roughly 3' from the front of my car, so it's dazzling no-one.

There is some confusion, I think, between proper factory-installed Xenon lighting systems that, as you say, have to have self-levelling and washer systems, and so-called "xenon" bulbs which are simply normal bulbs filled with a different gas to give a different light temperature that can appear brighter because it's more blue/white.

marlot wrote: »

I was following an Audi the other day, who'd left his rear foglights on. No sign of fog, of course.

If it was a relatively modern Audi, then they weren't "left" on, they were on by choice. The headlamp switch on most requires you to turn on the sidelights (at least) then pull out the switch to get fog lights on. It's not like old times where the fog lights were a separate switch that was powered up as soon as the headlights go on, there's no way they can be left on from a previous trip. Of course, they could have been on from earlier in the journey where it might have been foggy.


Don't start me on fog lights - I'm a bit fuzzy in the para above on how to turn them on because it's that long since I've felt a need to use them.

anotheruser

The problem is the lights, especially on 4x4's are set too high for normal cars, so the headlights shine right in.

Why there isn't some sort of rule that they all have to be pointing slightly downwards I don't know. Probably because the EU is obsessed with introducing useless DRL's - I mean in the height of summer, why would you even need lights on?
Plus, what's now the point in side lights? I've seen brighter DRLs!

NBLondon

anotheruser wrote: »

The problem is the lights, especially on 4x4's are set too high for normal cars, so the headlights shine right in.

... and if you drive a lower-than-average vehicle - small vans and crossovers also shine straight into the mirror. Don't forget the motorcyclist who hovers in your blind spot while waiting to overtake with a headlight aimed straight at your door mirror!

Nasqueron

anotheruser wrote: »

The problem is the lights, especially on 4x4's are set too high for normal cars, so the headlights shine right in.

Why there isn't some sort of rule that they all have to be pointing slightly downwards I don't know. Probably because the EU is obsessed with introducing useless DRL's - I mean in the height of summer, why would you even need lights on?
Plus, what's now the point in side lights? I've seen brighter DRLs!

It's about a common standard for cars made all over - making sure cars can be seen even if the muppet forgets to turn on main beams

There is plenty of evidence they reduce accidents as well

http://www.swov.eu/rapport/R-97-36.PDF

droopsnoot

anotheruser wrote: »

Why there isn't some sort of rule that they all have to be pointing slightly downwards I don't know.

There is - dipped headlights (as the name suggests) shine downwards and (in the UK) slightly to the left. That's why it's annoying when people park on the "wrong" side of the road but leave their dipped headlights on.


But in a 4x4 (or any other vehicle where the headlamps are placed higher up) they're still pointing downwards, but from a higher starting point.

anotheruser

Nasqueron wrote: »

It's about a common standard for cars made all over - making sure cars can be seen even if the muppet forgets to turn on main beams

I forgot to steer/indicate/brake... does that mean we should make this automatic too?

Plus, in this world, we're supposed to be promoting effiency.
Wasting power charging the battery, just to have lights on in the day is plain stupid. Why don't you leave your lights on at home during the day as well?

Iceweasel

anotheruser wrote: »

I forgot to steer/indicate/brake... does that mean we should make this automatic too?

Plus, in this world, we're supposed to be promoting effiency.
Wasting power charging the battery, just to have lights on in the day is plain stupid. Why don't you leave your lights on at home during the day as well?

I agree - a complete waste of power/energy - it's exactly the same with these new-fangled starter motors.

It was far better (and more healthy too) when we had starting handles.

Tothepoint.

chrisw wrote: »

Unless it's a Volvo.

Is that so?

It's possible to drive a modern Volvo without headlights lights.

reeac

Nasqueron wrote: »

It's about a common standard for cars made all over - making sure cars can be seen even if the muppet forgets to turn on main beams

There is plenty of evidence they reduce accidents as well

http://www.swov.eu/rapport/R-97-36.PDF

Recently I was overtaken by a car which had only DRLs on even though it was completely dark. I flashed my lights but that had no effect and by the time it was 100 metres or so ahead it was completely invisible. My guess is that the driver could see the light from the DRLs shining on the road and thought that everything was fine.