Why is it possible that car headlights are all so different in their degree of brightness?

Question

Am I the only person whose retinas are being seared driving on the freeway in the dark by vehicles coming behind me? Why is it legal that some of the newer vehicles- BMW, Toyota, VW have the Super Bright lights (Xenons?) that equate to my highbeams? I am curious what others think.

Answer 1

I agree with you some of the lights are way to bright. just because we have the ability to make a brighter light does not mean it is a good idea.

Answer 2

I find the new bright white lights annoying too. I commute once each month from central Florida to southern Louisiana. I find myself speeding just to get out of range of said bright white lights. Also the degree of fogginess on your headlight lenses will make older vehicles seem to have dimmer headlights. My wife's truck is like that kind of dim even with bright replacement lights. I feel for you though when it comes to retina searing lights...lol

Answer 3

i completely agree. Half the time you don't know if they have their high beams on or not, and when you are heading towards them it's almost impossible to see. I also hate four wheel drives that sit right behind you, their lights shining right in the back window.

Answer 4

Yes you are correct about newer cars with bright lights, the problem is the different loading of vehiches, when testing is usually only one or now driver, but actual driving some people have six adults or 100 hores in the rear so guess  what happens, lights  alien up high and dazel all on coming cars.

Answer 5

All headlamps, including the bright ones, should be adjusted so as they do not dazzle on coming vehicles.

In the UK this adjustment is part of the yearly MOT test, which all cars have to pass.

Answer 6

The bright headlights blind the drivers of other vehicles for a couple of seconds leading to accidents, especially on roads that have just two lanes. "High-beam headlight menace is common on highways, not in cities. These are called dazzling light cases. It is a punishable offense and we fine people who violate the rules because High-beam headlights can block the vision [of the driver coming from the opposite direction] for a second or two.

Vehicle owners should follow the practice of blacking the beam to reduce its intensity.

Answer 7

I too agree that these headlights are way to bright but as stated above even if they are adjusted correctly they are still too bright and you do not sometimes know it they are on low or high..