Projector Lights blind oncoming traffic?
10-14-2010, 01:30 PM
#1
Projector Lights blind oncoming traffic?
Hi-
Usually I drive only during the day but now that mornings are dark I needed to flip on the lights. It is amazing the field of view these lights give but I can't help but think they are blinding oncoming traffic especially on the 2 lane roads although no one flashed at me yet. Any of you guys been flashed at because of your lights?
Usually I drive only during the day but now that mornings are dark I needed to flip on the lights. It is amazing the field of view these lights give but I can't help but think they are blinding oncoming traffic especially on the 2 lane roads although no one flashed at me yet. Any of you guys been flashed at because of your lights?
10-14-2010, 04:28 PM
#2
Poseur
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
If you keep them on low, they have blinds/shutters that keep from blinding oncoming traffic. That should be very evident to you as you drive at night. I have never been flashed by oncoming traffic because of my bi-xenon lights.
10-14-2010, 05:01 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Never had a problem and I've used these lights on BMW, Mercedes and Porsche for about 10 years it seems.
It is getting harder to drive the Porsche at night on the two-lane roads as my eyes don't react well to oncoming headlights any more... much easier to sit up high in the ML.
It is getting harder to drive the Porsche at night on the two-lane roads as my eyes don't react well to oncoming headlights any more... much easier to sit up high in the ML.
10-14-2010, 11:07 PM
#6
Race Director
I rarely have issues with bi-xenon's in OEM applications as they are designed to adjust to the vehicles ride attitude. The problem is with the people who retrofit those blue halogen/krypton/etc. replacement bulbs in their pickups or other vehicles and don't aim them properly. Those things can be blinding.
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10-15-2010, 04:01 AM
#8
Yes, yes, all the time, and it really makes me mad.
I know a lot of people like really bright headlights because they feel safer, but do you really think it's safer to have oncoming traffic closing their eyes or holding a hand in front of their face because they're blinded?
IMO they should be illegal, or they should be required to be pointed down.
My guess is the ones in the 911 aren't too bad because the car is so low, but they are awful bright and I do feel guilty about them since I hate them so much on other people's cars.
Obviously the worst ones are SUVs which are right at eye level when you're in a low car.
I know a lot of people like really bright headlights because they feel safer, but do you really think it's safer to have oncoming traffic closing their eyes or holding a hand in front of their face because they're blinded?
IMO they should be illegal, or they should be required to be pointed down.
My guess is the ones in the 911 aren't too bad because the car is so low, but they are awful bright and I do feel guilty about them since I hate them so much on other people's cars.
Obviously the worst ones are SUVs which are right at eye level when you're in a low car.
10-15-2010, 05:28 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
No more than any others. I'm still surprised at how few cars have these lights - the visibility is so much better, and if properly installed they do not make things worse for oncoming drivers for reasons others have posted above.
10-18-2010, 06:11 PM
#11
Drifting
The european lights have been this way for a while. The top of the beam has a hard cut-off implemented by a mechanical block of the output, that allows the light to be bright but cut off so oncoming cars are not blinded. The old US style light pattern was much bigger and fuzzier and would be blinding folks with the projector lights.. thankfully those don't exist.
