tiramisutra t1_iwv381c wrote
It’s not that they’re not turned down, this is how they are. Not only are they mounted higher (on pickups and SUVs), they are also bluer than the halogen lights and this is part of the problem: Headlight strength is measured in how they affect a certain part of the eye and the unit is called Lumens. But this part of the eye is more sensitive to red light than blue, so to get the same Lumen, a blue light must be much stronger. And LEDs are much bluer than the older halogen lights. (Auto makers could make them warmer but have chosen not to).
So if an LED light and a halogen light register the same Lumen value on the light meter, the LED light would look 40% brighter. This is also why LED street lamps look so bright. They have the same Lumen value as older lamps but are brighter.
Congress has passed a bipartisan bill which requires regulators approve “adaptive driving beams” by 2023. Adaptive lights will be controlled by software to regulate the strength of the light based on driving conditions. Hopefully this will lead to some relief from the glare soon!
funkygrrl OP t1_iwwszpq wrote
Yeah I read the adaptive lights already used in European cars are also able to aim down and to the side when oncoming car is detected. Won't help with all the aftermarket lights though.
Was driving back to Western Mass from Boston today and I noticed that the ones with the most obnoxious lights were on pickup trucks - 2-3 rows of glaring lights and what didn't make sense to me is they were blasting them while in heavy traffic, clustered in a group of cars less than 10 feet apart from one another...So it wasn't to light the way, just being asinine.
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