mis-aligned head lights

How do so many drivers get away with headlights that either blind you with headlights that are as bright as the sun and point anywhere but at the road or only have one headlight that works so confusing other road users as to what is approaching ?

edogg said:

How do so many drivers get away with headlights that either blind you with headlights that are as bright as the sun and point anywhere but at the road or only have one headlight that works so confusing other road users as to what is approaching ?

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There is probably a minimum "brightness" level (candle power, or some such) for MOT tests etc.
Maybe time for a maximum as well ! They seem to be getting so bright that the actual alignment is only one factor.
With the advent of many more 4x4 type cars, the source is more in the eye line of drivers of lower "normal" cars.

Headlight alignment is covered in the MOT so I reckon, at least in my case, it's an age thing.

I just light the bloody things and hope I can see summat?

danforth said:

There is probably a minimum "brightness" level (candle power, or some such) for MOT tests etc.
Maybe time for a maximum as well ! They seem to be getting so bright that the actual alignment is only one factor.
With the advent of many more 4x4 type cars, the source is more in the eye line of drivers of lower "normal" cars.

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I don't believe there is a minimum brightness though there is definitely a max wattage.

oneman said:

I don't believe there is a minimum brightness though there is definitely a max wattage.

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There is, but as lights become more efficient the wattage / brightness relationship has altered.

Just wondered whether a brightness measure (and maximum) would be more appropriate.

Him Her said:

Headlight alignment is covered in the MOT so I reckon, at least in my case, it's an age thing.

I just light the bloody things and hope I can see summat?

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hi Him Her I drive a 4x4 thingy honda crv and I have had 2 cataract operations so bright lights cause haloing and the way I was taught to drive at night was to look at the nearside kirb not at oncoming traffic but in the 60's traffic was far less at night, it is too dangerous now not to look where you are driving so i am constantly being distracted by these bright lights, and then you get an idiot coming towards you with only one headlight or is it a motorbike ?

If it's not the car that looks like a motorbike it's the idiot lost off the Dakar Rally lit up like a bloody Xmas tree lol.

I try to avoid night driving now and that's without cataract operations!

Him Her said:

If it's not the car that looks like a motorbike it's the idiot lost off the Dakar Rally lit up like a bloody Xmas tree lol.

I try to avoid night driving now and that's without cataract operations!

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me too but it had to be done visiting over christmas (Newtonianday lasts 10 days)

should make illegal all these super bright bulbs you can buy that are up to 4 times brighter than most from the manufacturers

danforth said:

There is, but as lights become more efficient the wattage / brightness relationship has altered.

Just wondered whether a brightness measure (and maximum) would be more appropriate.

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yes and no, people find different headlight types have different dazzle effects. LED should pretty much eliminate glare.

bhoywonder said:

should make illegal all these super bright bulbs you can buy that are up to 4 times brighter than most from the manufacturers

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Which ones are you talking about ?

the ones you can buy on the high street

some of which are indeed illegal for road use

but some idiots here @ least use them for normal road use

not sure if its brightness or beam pattern thats different but anyone using on

our roads should get hammered

We have LED lights in the kitchen and I cant look in the direction they are in

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This seems to be just part of a bigger annoyance, at least for me. Everything gets brighter, louder, and faster.

I could put it down to age, my sight and hearing are not as acute as they used to be.

Ironic then, that I sometimes find light and sound at painfully high levels, approaching what could be classed as industrial injury levels over time.

Succeeding generations may well become partially deaf and blind, as well as dumbed down.

danforth said:

This seems to be just part of a bigger annoyance, at least for me. Everything gets brighter, louder, and faster.

I could put it down to age, my sight and hearing are not as acute as they used to be.

Ironic then, that I sometimes find light and sound at painfully high levels, approaching what could be classed as industrial injury levels over time.

Succeeding generations may well become partially deaf and blind, as well as dumbed down.

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A few years ago I had a M plate fiesta. Compared to todays cars the headlights were like candles. I for one am glad of improved technology.

oneman said:

A few years ago I had a M plate fiesta. Compared to todays cars the headlights were like candles. I for one am glad of improved technology.

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Hmm, my 'candle-power' headlights do limit my speed on country lanes somewhat. Not that the 'super-bright' headlights help the driver behind terribly much. It's sooo hard to overtake on a narrow lane after they've repeatedly treated me to a dose of their full-beam.

Of course, I haven't perfected my rear-facing spot array and it sometimes comes on unexpectedly

4 times brighter thats good i may get them as i drive a 20 yr old car,the modern cars are very bright and blinding,lost count of how many cars i counted over last few days with bulbs gone.

My step son is mechanic and I mentioned it to him he has the reason modern cars have headlights that have ledges in them so that the bulbs align but idiots who change bulbs themselves do not bother putting them in correctly hence bulbs that point upwards or into oncoming traffic

Many drivers change over to the Xenon headlight bulbs, but they are just not meant to be on some vehicles and as Edogg says even those vehicles that they are suitable for are not being properly fitted.
I have also found that LED rear lights also tend to be too bright and glaring on some cars, but the main thing that I have noticed is that the light designs have become more of a fashion statement than a safety feature.
On the fashion statement side of things, has anyone else noticed how small the lights on larger vehicles such as coaches have become ?

^^^^ agree its a fashion statement if anything