Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

Post by globular-toast » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:07 AM UTC

kube-system wrote: post #192

mcv wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't the flashing indicator lights also an obvious indicator that the car did indeed lock? Or even just the sound of the locks locking. It gives an audible click in all cars I know.

Yes, if you have line of sight. If you don't, sound has the advantage of going around corners. I have encountered situations where I might need to operate the locks without being immediately in line-of-sight, like when I leave the vehicle before other passengers, someone else needs to get something out of the vehicle, etc.

Post by mcv » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:11 AM UTC

globular-toast wrote: post #279

mcv wrote: post #92

I know very little about headlights, but I do know that too many cars have a certain kind of extra bright, blue-white headlights which hurt my eyes. I don't know why they are allowed, but I'd love to see them banned. They may be great for the driver, but getting blinded isn't much fun for oncoming traffic. > "When a car approaches in the oncoming lane, the 911's headlights dim around it while leaving the rest of the…

It's practically impossible to cycle at night on roads without street lighting due to cars. Has been for many, many years. The people who would want to do it (generally people into the sport and out for training) just accept this. Nobody else cares.

Post by usrusr » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:12 AM UTC

TomMarius wrote: post #222

jdietrich wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the European Audi and BMW range is equipped with adaptive LED or laser headlights that selectively dip for oncoming traffic; self-levelling headlights are mandatory on new cars in the EU.

Not just "new cars" - a 2001 car that I drove had xeons with the leveling already mandatory. And it's checked at the bi-yearly technical inspection, and the police can forbid you to drive the car further if it's not working and they catch you (not sure if all around EU, definitely in Czechia and Germany).

Post by namdnay » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:22 AM UTC

paganel wrote: post #269

serf wrote: post #14

groups like Audi/Porsche/BMW have trouble bringing their fancy LED setups to America due to laws pertaining to high / low beams -- meanwhile every Jack and Jill on the road has glaringly illegal aftermarket Xenon bulb setups in refractor headlight housings rather than proper projectors, blinding the hell out of everyone on the road, and the police seem to do nothing about it. I mean, hey -- i'm usually happy about au…

>groups like Audi/Porsche/BMW have trouble bringing their fancy LED setups Unfortunately those fancy LED setups are a headache for the rest of us drivers sharing the roads with those models, because they're also bright as hell from the factory. Fortunately the tacky way Audi had implemented its rear-lights signalling wasn't adopted by the wider industry, and I think the VW group itself is having second thoughts about…

Post by pskinner » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:32 AM UTC

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.