One of the many problems with these massive pickup trucks is that the headlights are so high up that the normal mode is effectively high-beams for anyone who isn’t also in a massive pickup truck
Higher is supposes to be fine if you re aim them for the standard cut off height/distance, but some of the factory ones (I think Nissan Rogue) are just absolutely blinding on normal factory height
The headlights should be pointed at a downward slope on all vehicles. If they aren’t tailgating it’s usually not a problem. Sadly most do tailgate and some even flatten the beam of the lights or they raised the truck and didn’t readjust the headlights which is effectively similar. I drive a Miata, it’s usually not glaring until they’re right up on you at a light.
Random side note, the outside “C” shaped lights(different shapes on different vehicles) in this pic. Those are the DRL(daytime running light) and for anybody that doesn’t know…those are only on the front of the vehicle. I see so many people zooming around with no taillights because of this. They pull up at stops and see lights reflecting off the car in front and just assume their headlights are on. These are sometimes the same people that complain their new cars headlights suck…cause they have yet to turn them on.
The problem with how bright they are nowadays is that the downwards angle required to not blind people in regular driving conditions like small slopes is ridiculous and severely restricts how far you can see
I often think about putting an unreasonably bright backwards facing lightbar on my sedan for just such occasions. Guess what bud, now we both can’t see.
The cars with headlights that I find glaring are usually/more often unadjusted low-beams.
Or fog lamps bcs “iT mAKeS It lOoK sPorTIeR”.
Interestingly I can code my DRLs (front and back - diffident markets have different rules regarding what DRLs are & when are needed) to different levels & at default they are at 20 or 30% (the 100% being when used with regular headlights on, probably).
I tried it bcs I was curious & set it to 100%, but was def distracting & I reset them immediately (I didn’t even do both sides, just the right one to have a comparison).
It’s totally valid to have fog lights for use in fog because they actually do make a massive difference. I am also a fan of how they look they just fill in the bumper nicely. But using them when it isn’t foggy is pretty stupid. I personally have fog lights but barely ever use them other than when I’m on a back road late at night and just want all the visibility possible.
Ofc lights have a legitimate purpose.
They are absolutely paramount to read safety (fuck cars tho for that safety even being in question - even tho I like cars, I want trains too or at least cars on trains).
I can’t imagine having a car with incandescent lights anymore (like with lots of other tech - like tires).
I use fog lights (first back, then front) if I literally can’t see taillights in front of me at like a bit over 50(-ish)m & reduced speed.
I love high beams too, it gives me so much better side-of-the-road awareness (animals), but I also have one finger on the (adaptive) button all the time in case the camera fails & starts closing the gap on a car (no, I don’t have an IR camera :/).
It’s also stupid how like 20+ (25+?) year old cars have adaptive high beams (where they don’t shine in other cars), automatic leveling of headlights (to prevent what OP posted), and even IR cameras (with ppl & animal spotting & even highlighting), etc - and the auto industry just kept it all as an expensive add-on for so many years (things changed slowly, but it’s still not standard).
At least the lawmakers mandated auto-emergency-braking on new cars (again after 20 years).
Oh, another example, the French had adaptive (non- high beam) headlights to see around the corner in 1967, yet this is still not mandated.
Modern are ofc better - and perhaps fill the purpose you mention you use fog lights for.
At least for SUVs some manufacturers finally realized that you don’t need to put the beams at the top of the front, you can have the DRLs there and have the beams at the bottom.
Maybe it’s also bcs it’s a global model & some markets do have prescribed a max & a min height of a headlight from the ground (I heard even UK had or has that).
It’s also why trucks in EU have regular headlamps closer to the ground compared to those in USA.
The lighting specs to sell in USA vs EU are different. Same as the reflex lens side markers. Automakers produce two sets (or more) of front and rear lights for the same vehicle model. SAE and ECE if I recall the acronyms correctly
This is a really good idea, and I’m glad some manufacturers are doing it. It’d be great if Ford could follow suit because the LED high beams in my car blind me every time a retro-reflector is nearby.
Sometimes I wonder if people know how lights work, and this goes both ways apparently. I have a couple Western Stars and a Peterbilt, and the low beams are aimed to have the same throw as a passenger vehicle that isn’t driven by an idiot that can’t aim lights. And those trucks sit much, much higher than a pickup.
One of the many problems with these massive pickup trucks is that the headlights are so high up that the normal mode is effectively high-beams for anyone who isn’t also in a massive pickup truck
It’s the brightness primarily, but yes made worse by the height
Higher is supposes to be fine if you re aim them for the standard cut off height/distance, but some of the factory ones (I think Nissan Rogue) are just absolutely blinding on normal factory height
The headlights should be pointed at a downward slope on all vehicles. If they aren’t tailgating it’s usually not a problem. Sadly most do tailgate and some even flatten the beam of the lights or they raised the truck and didn’t readjust the headlights which is effectively similar. I drive a Miata, it’s usually not glaring until they’re right up on you at a light.
image from here
Random side note, the outside “C” shaped lights(different shapes on different vehicles) in this pic. Those are the DRL(daytime running light) and for anybody that doesn’t know…those are only on the front of the vehicle. I see so many people zooming around with no taillights because of this. They pull up at stops and see lights reflecting off the car in front and just assume their headlights are on. These are sometimes the same people that complain their new cars headlights suck…cause they have yet to turn them on.
The problem with how bright they are nowadays is that the downwards angle required to not blind people in regular driving conditions like small slopes is ridiculous and severely restricts how far you can see
they’re just too bright now
I often think about putting an unreasonably bright backwards facing lightbar on my sedan for just such occasions. Guess what bud, now we both can’t see.
Lol, that all sounds correct unfortunately.
The cars with headlights that I find glaring are usually/more often unadjusted low-beams.
Or fog lamps bcs “iT mAKeS It lOoK sPorTIeR”.
Interestingly I can code my DRLs (front and back - diffident markets have different rules regarding what DRLs are & when are needed) to different levels & at default they are at 20 or 30% (the 100% being when used with regular headlights on, probably).
I tried it bcs I was curious & set it to 100%, but was def distracting & I reset them immediately (I didn’t even do both sides, just the right one to have a comparison).
It’s totally valid to have fog lights for use in fog because they actually do make a massive difference. I am also a fan of how they look they just fill in the bumper nicely. But using them when it isn’t foggy is pretty stupid. I personally have fog lights but barely ever use them other than when I’m on a back road late at night and just want all the visibility possible.
Ofc lights have a legitimate purpose.
They are absolutely paramount to read safety (fuck cars tho for that safety even being in question - even tho I like cars, I want trains too or at least cars on trains).
I can’t imagine having a car with incandescent lights anymore (like with lots of other tech - like tires).
I use fog lights (first back, then front) if I literally can’t see taillights in front of me at like a bit over 50(-ish)m & reduced speed.
I love high beams too, it gives me so much better side-of-the-road awareness (animals), but I also have one finger on the (adaptive) button all the time in case the camera fails & starts closing the gap on a car (no, I don’t have an IR camera :/).
It’s also stupid how like 20+ (25+?) year old cars have adaptive high beams (where they don’t shine in other cars), automatic leveling of headlights (to prevent what OP posted), and even IR cameras (with ppl & animal spotting & even highlighting), etc - and the auto industry just kept it all as an expensive add-on for so many years (things changed slowly, but it’s still not standard).
At least the lawmakers mandated auto-emergency-braking on new cars (again after 20 years).
Oh, another example, the French had adaptive (non- high beam) headlights to see around the corner in 1967, yet this is still not mandated.
Modern are ofc better - and perhaps fill the purpose you mention you use fog lights for.
I have the factory fog lamps (they’re pretty low) on whenever the low beams are on. I have abysmal night vision and live in a rural area.
They are a separate switch for me but I drive a car from the 80s so idk maybe I’m the weird one
At least for SUVs some manufacturers finally realized that you don’t need to put the beams at the top of the front, you can have the DRLs there and have the beams at the bottom.
https://www.hyundai-forums.com/attachments/1564158285330-png.440196/
That’s the only redeeming quality of the Cybertruck. Its headlights are low in the bumper area.
Also it makes it easy to identify wannabe fascists.
Maybe it’s also bcs it’s a global model & some markets do have prescribed a max & a min height of a headlight from the ground (I heard even UK had or has that).
It’s also why trucks in EU have regular headlamps closer to the ground compared to those in USA.
The lighting specs to sell in USA vs EU are different. Same as the reflex lens side markers. Automakers produce two sets (or more) of front and rear lights for the same vehicle model. SAE and ECE if I recall the acronyms correctly
Oh, global models have a lot more than two, several per country per model.
This is a really good idea, and I’m glad some manufacturers are doing it. It’d be great if Ford could follow suit because the LED high beams in my car blind me every time a retro-reflector is nearby.
Sometimes I wonder if people know how lights work, and this goes both ways apparently. I have a couple Western Stars and a Peterbilt, and the low beams are aimed to have the same throw as a passenger vehicle that isn’t driven by an idiot that can’t aim lights. And those trucks sit much, much higher than a pickup.