Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

caranddriver.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

161–170 of 493 posts

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#161

Post by kube-system »

partiallypro wrote: post #138

I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. The replacement cost on that headlight is probably astronomical, where I can replace a bulb for $40. I don't even know if the Boxster which is around ~$60K comes with these headlights. A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH.

> A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH.

That sounds low. My Toyota's headlights are $1,200 each.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#162

Post by kube-system »

Ancapistani wrote: post #106
alkonaut wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the regulation isn't "55 Watts or equivalent brightness to 55W incandescent" then the regulation is pretty dumb. I mean it has to have a minimum brightness (regardless of power use), so why not a maximum brightness rather than a maximum power too?

I’m not sure if it even has a minimum brightness.

Anyone remember sealed-beam headlights?

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#163

Post by peterwwillis »

The American market has had "adaptive headlights" for nearly 20 years. They tilt up and down, side to side, depending on the orientation of the car. My 2004 Lexus IS300 had them. And they were HIDs, so they were plenty bright. (My base model 2012 Toyota's headlights completely suck in comparison...)

But our headlight market and rules are pretty ridiculous. Most "fancy" non-HID bulbs are a ripoff and actually make visibility worse, and it's also illegal to convert a halogen setup to HID. Combine this with the fact that some designs are just crap no matter what the bulb type, and we have a general market failure to understand the real performance of headlights. People think they can generalize headlight types, but it doesn't bear out in practice. https://www.consumerreports.org/headlights/are-hid-and-led-h...

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#164

Post by bradknowles »

ChainOfFools wrote: post #80
vsareto wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You will see them far more often on large trucks in the USA these days. Especially true for midwest drives across long stretches at night where the brightness is much more annoying than in the middle of a city. If the truck is lifted, the brightest points of the light can hit you from further away, worsening the problem. It is also bad when someone is behind you with this setup, especially lifted trucks. Some cars ha…

I've started to see some of those lifted trucks (almost always white, for some reason) with LED strip arrays mounted into the front grill fascia at just the right height to glare directly at the eye level of passenger cars.

I’ve given thought to getting one of those strips of LED lights and mounting them on the back of my car. Then we can see whose lights are brighter.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#165

Post by linuxftw »

bArray wrote: post #145
partiallypro wrote: post #138

I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. The replacement cost on that headlight is probably astronomical, where I can replace a bulb for $40. I don't even know if the Boxster which is around ~$60K comes with these headlights. A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH.

As with all automotive parts, eventually the price will come down. Currently they are luxury, in some years they will be commodity.

By then, the lights will be tied to your VIN number and only replaceable by the dealership.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#166

Post by kube-system »

chrisseaton wrote: post #30
coding123 wrote: post #4

Even more idiotic is my truck. I put a camper on it. I can't drive it at night because the weight of the camper tilts the entire truck back just a bit so that the head lights are aimed right at driver's eyes even on the lowbeams. Everyone flashes me and gets pissed off. Hopefully Adaptive headlights account for things like this.

I would say there is almost certainly a little wheel somewhere on your dashboard to adjust them. My Land Rover has this.

A vehicle in the US that would be colloquially referred to as a 'truck' almost certainly does not. Headlight level controls are extremely rare in the US.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#167

Post by Dylan16807 »

aaomidi wrote: post #136
giancarlostoro wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you are literally blinded by somebody's headlights making you momentarily blind, you are a danger to yourself and others and could kill yourself and / or others which is not even your fault to begin with! Jail time doesn't sound too insane then. I've literally had to close my eyes whilst driving due to someone's ridiculous headlights being super bright on the opposite side of the road.

Jail should be only reserved for a time when a person is refusing to change their behavior to stop being a risk to themselves or society. It is not and should not be used as a punishment. This is ridiculous.

So write a ticket the first time, and if they don't change then jail for endangering others, right?

I don't think people are especially concerned about the exact punishment schedule here, they just want consequences that result in safe cars, much like with drunk driving laws.

Someone mentioning jail doesn't mean they want it as an immediate first-line consequence. It's a simplification, so please recognize that before crying 'ridiculous'.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#168

Post by luma »

pandaman wrote: post #146
vidanay wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On this type of lighting, what is the purpose of having high and low beams? It seems like you should be able to leave it on high all the time.

You will blind yourself with your own high beams in heavy rain/snow/fog.

Interestingly, a similar version of these systems was demonstrated back in 2012 which could track individual snow flakes or rain drops. They would avoid illuminating the drops so they wouldn’t reflect back at you, thus reducing glare and allowing you to see much further.

https://youtu.be/4jwhQM6aDS8

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#169

Post by peterwwillis »

coding123 wrote: post #4

Even more idiotic is my truck. I put a camper on it. I can't drive it at night because the weight of the camper tilts the entire truck back just a bit so that the head lights are aimed right at driver's eyes even on the lowbeams. Everyone flashes me and gets pissed off. Hopefully Adaptive headlights account for things like this.

Sounds like too much tongue weight. Assuming you aren't exceeding your vehicle's tow capacity, the tongue weight should be about 10% of the loaded trailer weight (check your owner's manual) which the suspension should be designed to handle and thus not tilt your vehicle under load. Or you may have a worn suspension...
Post reply on HN