Headlamp Glare

[Drago]

Saw an article about one of thr Tesla models being revamped, with indicator stalks!
Sounds like common sense...

...or the fact that cars without certain physical controls will soon lose marks from the Euro NCAP score.

 

[lazybloke]

...or the fact that cars without certain physical controls will soon lose marks from the Euro NCAP score.

In that case, about time too.

Bigger headlamps next.
And what the hell are those cars where the headlamp cant stay on at the same time as an indicator; how on earth can that be a good idea?
Or was it just an olde fashioned earth fault?

 

[Marchrider]

Modern LED lights can seem like they're being flashed sometimes, in my experience.. I stopped my car once because it looked like the driver behind kept flashing his lights, he denied it & it seemed every imperfection in the road caused the lights to glare.

pot holes etc temporarily change the direction of the light, too fast for the adaptive lights to react.
And dipped beam now uses a very intense light but angled downwards so as not to dazzle, except when you meet on a brow of a hill when they toast your retinas

 

[simongt]

the other issue is the lights are so bright that they swamp the indicators,

Something that I've noticed in recent years, although I think it's more of the point that in order to give cars a more 'stylish & streamlined look', the indicators are being fared in with the headlight cluster which makes them much harder to define, especially during the day.

 

[Marchrider]

the other issue is the lights are so bright that they swamp the indicators, I thought it was just me getting old but both my daughters say the same.

I think this is mainly a thing with the 'day time running lights' as you say they are so intensely bright that they can hide the indicator

 

[mjr]

This topic seems to be all over national and local BBC today. Department for Transport has commissioned some new research, they say. Philips Automotive Lighting suggest a kite mark on the bulbs, which might help their margins but would do almost naff-all to reduce the problem.

 

[Marchrider]

This topic seems to be all over national and local BBC today. Department for Transport has commissioned some new research, they say. Philips Automotive Lighting suggest a kite mark on the bulbs, which might help their margins but would do almost naff-all to reduce the problem.

government will probably launch some enquiry costing 100 million take 7 years then sweep it all under some big carpet.

 

[mjr]

government will probably launch some enquiry costing 100 million take 7 years then sweep it all under some big carpet.

Right? It's pretty obvious that roadside checks and issuing some stripeys (vehicle defect rectification notice) would be a better first move, but that probably costs more and would play into a "nanny state" narrative that all recent governments seem scared of.

 

[Drago]

Right? It's pretty obvious that roadside checks and issuing some stripeys (vehicle defect rectification notice) would be a better first move, but that probably costs more and would play into a "nanny state" narrative that all recent governments seem scared of.

You'd need qualified vehicle examiners - notmto memtion bulky equilemtnt that theyre not trained on anyway - to test for beam aim, and as most forces only have one, or sometimes one between several forces in collaboration, so sadly tht won't fly.

I think this is mainly a thing with the 'day time running lights' as you say they are so intensely bright that they can hide the indicator

Indeed. If you look closely as you go bout your travel you'll see some are bright enough to obscure the outline of the vehicle as it approaches.

Without that outline growing clearly against the background as it approaches your brain is deprived of the datum required to calculate its speed. That's why there has been no reduction in casualties definitively attributable to DRLs anywhere other than the sub-artic climate of Northern Europe.

 

[mjr]

You'd need qualified vehicle examiners - notmto memtion bulky equilemtnt that theyre not trained on anyway - to test for beam aim, and as most forces only have one, or sometimes one between several forces in collaboration, so sadly tht won't fly.

Surely the more egregious ones (like effectively no dip) could be addressed at the roadside and the finer points tested at any MoT station if needed. About one in four drivers is taking the pee at the mo, with lights that are very high, wide or not even dipped, resulting in dazzle.

 

[Marchrider]

The worst ones are the newest of cars and esp the top marque versions - they will all meet all the current guidelines for what is allowed

it is 'What's Allowed" that needs changing, and that is at the very least an EU wide thing (that we now have no say in) and even if change were made it would not be done retrospectively, so even if changes were agreed tomorrow, things won't improve on the road for many many years

 

[Drago]

Surely the more egregious ones (like effectively no dip) could be addressed at the roadside and the finer points tested at any MoT station if needed. About one in four drivers is taking the pee at the mo, with lights that are very high, wide or not even dipped, resulting in dazzle.

"Hello Sir. Show me your dipped headlights, then your high beam please?"

"No, I won't officer, because you're not a qualified vehicle examiner. You can check my tyres if you have a calibrated device and have have done the trainjng, you can measure my number plates if you have a calibrated (or new "in date" from an approved supplier) tape measure, if youre suitably trained you can measure my tints, if you saw me driving with a light out you can deal with that, but because you're not a vehicle examiner you don't have powers to ask me to operate any system on my vehicle and I commit no offence if I politely decline to comply."

"Ah, a smart arse. Did you know you had a tail light out? (SMASH!)"

 

[presta]

it is 'What's Allowed" that needs changing

Exactly, they put the brightness up from 3000lm to 6000lm, all that's needed is to turn the wick back down again. Simplez.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I had my first confrontation of the year last week - I stopped at the side of the road and shielded my eyes to let the driver know he was blinding me. He stopped wound his window down and announced his lights were automatic and they don't see cyclists! I suggested he take his car back to the garage and ask for a less anti-social one - He blew his fat little top at the criticism of his car and told me cyclists shouldn't be out this late at night and then sped off at high speed (it was quarter to five and not quite dark)
View attachment 759579

so at what time should cyclists be safely home in bed and not getting in the way of the Land Rover classes ? they pay road tax and everything

What a tosspot the driver was. He can always dip them himself, even if auto.

 

[Drago]

What a tosspot the driver was. He can always dip them himself, even if auto.

It's Groundhog Day!!!