Click here to search eBay using an item number or text description...
Vehicle lights
Posted by Andy C on February 17, 2025, 8:52 am
While having breakfast the TV was on and there was a news article about over bright vehicle lights.
A huge percentage of drivers in a poll said they are a problem, according to insurance companies they get 1 claim a day relating to headlights.
Some idiot from Phillips lightinig was harping on about how it is illegal to adjust your headlamps / change to different bulbs - do modern lights have bulbs ?
Suggestions for combatting the problem varied from slow down if you are dazzled - great lets all drive at a snails pace, and of course get your eyes checked.
I got the feeling that the industry dont really want to accept that it is a problem, and as usual it is you the dear old driver that has the problem.Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by ChazzyB on February 17, 2025, 9:12 am, in reply to "Vehicle lights"
FWIW, I don't find them a problem. well, only when people fail to dip them. I do what I have always done - look where I want to go, not at the lights of the oncoming car.
Just my 3 happence worth.
To advertise here, please call...
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by geoff the bonnie on February 17, 2025, 11:21 am, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
Some do affect me so i have to be looking at the kerb if dazzled. Some cars have improved on the early problems. Vauxhall seem to have the best set up with many LEDS that switch off or move direction if an oncoming car comes toward it. Mine also does this automatically but Vauxhall have turned it into a working system. Break a headlight on these new cars and most are well over 1000 pounds. Some rear lamps can also so be 500 pounds. I broke a tiny red lens on my Volvo, 3 inch by 1 inch and a simple 21 watt filament lamp. That cost over 160 pounds as a spare part. It got superglue repaired.
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by ChazzyB on February 17, 2025, 11:41 am, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
VAG have had an "Active Matrix" (Skoda nomenclature) light option for some years; I guess Audi drivers got it first for a hefty premium. It's spooky seeing a moving black rectangle where it cuts light falling onto an oncoming vehicle.To advertise here, please call...
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by Nigel B on February 17, 2025, 12:09 pm, in reply to "Vehicle lights"
Some idiot from Phillips lightinig was harping on about how it is illegal to adjust your headlamps / change to different bulbs - do modern lights have bulbs ?
Yes, some modern cars do still have incandescent lamps - my Hyundai i30 Tourer at the trim level I bought has standard halogen headlamps, but the higher trim level came with Led units.
There are legal limts to how powerful incadescant lamps can be, and there are "extra reach" lamps available with increased output over standard ( +150% and +200% typically). Reputable manufacturers (Philips, Osram, Ring etc) increased output lamps meeet the legal requirements (easily determined by if they have an "E number" rating), but there are uncertified products that do not do so. There are 2 downsides to these - price (3 or 4 times the cost of a "standard" replacement lamp) and life (half or less the life of a "standard" lamp - you don't get something for nothing ! ). I tried a pair of Osram NightBreaker +200% in my last i30, as the standad lamps lacked reach - they did work in that regard, but only lasted 18 months and I just put the OEM lamps back in when they died. Cost around £24 for the pair some 5 years ago.
There are also Led replacements for halogen lamps that are not legal here for vehicles registered before (IIRC) 1984. In Europe the likes of Osram and Philips make E marked (legal over there) Led replacements, but they are pricey (€100+ each).
Motorad magazine have just done their annual headlamp comparison and it is apparent (as always) that not all replacement lamps are made equal ! And the performance gains from enhanced performance items are, at best, a bit marginal - maybe an extra 10 metres reach for the best reputable makers products. The Led replacements from Osram and Philips were the best of the bunch, but an "Amazon special" with no official certification was diamal - worse than the worst performing halogen replacement.
I have noticed that since the changes to the MoT to outlaw Led conversions to pre-'84 vehicles that there are fewer of the very bright, diffused blue dazzlers about than there once were, but OEM Led headlamps on new (mainly oversize SUV type) vehicles that are placed higher above the ground continue to be a problem - my dipping rear view mirror gets a lot of use !
Nigel B.
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by Andy C on February 17, 2025, 12:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
It will be interesting to see if it gets a mention on the main news - in the report at breakfast 25% of the people polled said that they no longer drive at night for fear of being dazzled.
25% is a lot, although I dont know how many were polled or what age range.
Agree with you that there nothing like as many of the blue dazzlers around now.Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by shiner on February 17, 2025, 1:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
there used to be legislation that specified height, & distance from the edge of vehicles both front and rear of any vehicle depending on type and in addition output of light that all seems to have gone out of the window now & does nobody apply the handbrake at traffic lights or junctions rather than sit in ques with footbrake lights inconsideratly dazzling others behind them especially suv's of which I am an owner whose brake light can be very high from the ground .GRrr!
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by Andy C on February 17, 2025, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
Shiner - alaways use the handbrake simply because I dont want to dazzle people behind by sitting on the footbrake.
Well done you considering others - something we dont get much of these days.Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by Nigel B on February 17, 2025, 1:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
does nobody apply the handbrake
You can blame the "auto engine stop" feature for that - only works while the footbrake applied on the cars I have had with the feature. Put the handbrake on, the engine restarts & car sits idling. Mine stays off if I select neutral, but still have to have foot on brakes for engine to stay off - engine restarts as soon as Drive engaged regardless (DCT auto gearbox).
The way driving is taught now is very different to when I was learning.
Nigel B.
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by JERRY on February 17, 2025, 1:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
I'm not a lover of driving at night now and these lights are so bright. I even get blinded when sitting up high driving my van.The oldest rocker in town!
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by Triton Thrasher on February 23, 2025, 9:55 am, in reply to "Vehicle lights"
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by JERRY on February 24, 2025, 12:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
The oldest rocker in town!
Re: Vehicle lights
Posted by A65Bill on February 25, 2025, 2:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Vehicle lights"
on February 17, 2025, 8:52 am
