Brighter headlights today

[Sousaclone]

It's kind of odd, as I drive a '21 chevy pickup for work and almost never get flashed for having my brights on, while my general superintendent drives almost an identical truck (except his comes w/ a 2" lift from the factory) and he says he gets flashed at least once a week. We both run nearly the same route to work at about the same time (35 miles of mostly 2 lane hwy)

You can definetly tell the difference between a vehicle designed with LEDs vs just bulbs vs actual headlight assembly replacement. My work truck has a hard (and I mean hard) cutoff line, that's really visible in the dark. My jeep has LED replacement headlights (new reflectors and housings). those are adjusted down and I've never gotten flashed.

As far as people running light bars or similar on normal roads, F that. That's not doing a damn thing except pissing people off.

I will admit to driving with the fog lights on more than I should, as I like the extra light that it throws towards the ditch line, especially at night.

 

[AuH2O]

Let’s get serious here and address the elephant in the room. Suburban guys compensating for their tiny wangs by driving Silverados, F150s and Suburbans are ruining night driving. It’s a serious epidemic sweeping our nation.

 

[CloneFanInKC]

Let’s get serious here and address the elephant in the room. Suburban guys compensating for their tiny wangs by driving Silverados, F150s and Suburbans are ruining night driving. It’s a serious epidemic sweeping our nation.

This epidemic has a high number of instances in highly populated metropolitan areas….

 

[AuH2O]

This epidemic has a high number of instances in highly populated metropolitan areas….

Oh no! The crisis is worse than I feared!

 

[NWICY]

I drive a sedan and I don't think I'll be able to do it again. I come home with a headache basically every single night this time of the year.

PSA:

If you drive a truck with an aftermarket light bar, **** you. Your headlights are bad enough. Stop running them on the highways or especially in town.

Also, if you mother ******* can afford a $5000+ lift and wheel package, you can afford ******* nut driver to adjust your headlights. People don't think you're cool. They think you're ******* annoying.

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Driving at night is absolutely brutal for me.

Amen to this one brother. Also the other but the lower light bar or the bar on the grill should be banned from being used on the roadway. Mounting them and using them on a service vehicle when needed is fine but just on and driving down the road can take a hike.

 

[CyCrazy]

I have the same issue. Driving in town at night or on the Interstate is fine. Its county roads that blind me. I also have a new Highlander and the brights automatically come on and off, so I am sure that pissses people off as well. I didnt know we had this option for awhile or didnt notice it even happens driving around Ames at night.

 

[Cycsk]

I like the vehicles in India that have signs like this one:

"Use Dipper at Night"

 

[AgronAlum]

Amen to this one brother. Also the other but the lower light bar or the bar on the grill should be banned from being used on the roadway. Mounting them and using them on a service vehicle when needed is fine but just on and driving down the road can take a hike.

Yeah, I have no issue with service trucks that need to see or be seen while they’re on roadways. Trucks also run rear lights for trailers and whatnot and that’s fine too. There is zero reason to run them when commuting.

 

[mapnerd]

So, are there just no rules when it comes to lights on vehicles anymore? Maybe it was a fever dream, but I feel like things were more strict back in the day. Now it's the wild west and no one seems to give a ****. Just drive around Ames at night. I've seen some nutty things. LED ropes and all sorts of ground effects everywhere.

 

[AgronAlum]

So, the US is completely behind in this tech space. Headlights on new vehicles need to be closer to the ground, and either pointed further downward, or have some other mechanism that focuses even more light straight forward and less to the sides and edges.

And yes, people who modify their vehicles need to properly adjust their headlights afterward. Or, the people who upgrade their headlights, need to also upgrade the housings around them so they properly focus the new lights.

My personal favorite are those who jack up their lights/light angles to blind everyone out the front, then also black out their rear taillight lenses so nobody can see those past 8 feet away.

I know the technology is there because my car is a 2018 has it (along with active bending and stuff). The beam extends a long way down the road but you can see the top of the beam and it never gets directly into mirrors no matter the distance to another vehicle. They are far more focused than most of the other LED headlights, which are nothing but brighter than the older halogen lamps.

Move them down, make them more directional. I saw some technology recently where the head lights actually cut themselves off from oncoming vehicles. The side of the beam disappears as a car approaches and comes back on when they pass.

 

[aauummm]

U.S. headlight standards history and new rules are supposed to be out:

https://www.motortrend.com/news/us-headlights-standard-108-update-infrastructure-law/


The new U.S. rule (2/22/2022):

https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...ive-devices-and-associated-equipment-adaptive

 

[dmclone]

On the other end of the spectrum, I was driving from the Minnesota boarder to Des Moines Saturday afternoon/night and it's alarming how many people didn't have their light on. It was rainy/cloudy all day and 4:30-5pm I saw multiple cars without their lights on.

 

[casey1973]

My eyes also aren't the greatest so I chalked up them seeming brighter to that but I had a moment Saturday night where I was blinded so bad for like 2 or 3 seconds.

Glad I'm not the only one here. Thought it was just me! I've stocked up NON led lights in my house to last a long time......

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

I agree, driving at night has become an unexpected challenge for me in the last few years.

On a side note, my lights are a little brighter today after a wonderful evening with my wife. Great homemade meal and the kids were in bed early. This time of year can be stressful, we really appreciate the time we get together now due to “life being so busy.”

Show some decorum, please. I can't cover my eyes and still read this thread.

 

[ClonesFTW]

We must have a lot of rural posters driving on highways - I live in Waukee and have never thought of this as an issue.

 

[Clonefan32]

I have this issue as well. I think some of it is LED and some is cars sitting up higher. I don't have the issue in my truck anywhere near as bad we when we are in the wife's van.

 

[houjix]

We must have a lot of rural posters driving on highways - I live in Waukee and have never thought of this as an issue.

I see plenty of vehicles in town of the Des Moines metro with insanely bright lights. The worst for me are the ones that are a whole bank of lights on some newer SUVs, not just a single fixture. It is blunted somewhat by the general increase in light from street lights, but some can still be really bad.

 

[Roseclone07]

Had lasik and figured it was mostly just a long term side effect of refractive errors so not a huge fan of night driving but maybe there is more to it…

 

[cycloner29]

I've seen more vehicles the last couple of weeks that have no headlights or tail lights on at night. Just brake lights at stop lights and stop signs.

 

[KidSilverhair]

I've seen more vehicles the last couple of weeks that have no headlights or tail lights on at night. Just brake lights at stop lights and stop signs.

I’m ashamed to admit several years ago I drove home from work multiple times in the dark with just my daytime running lights on. They provided enough light (especially in town) that I didn’t realize I didn’t actually have my headlights on, and I’m sure that meant my taillights weren’t on, either.

That car didn’t have automatic headlights, which I do have now.

Cars without daytime running lights that are just driving completely dark? Yeah, that’s messed up.