Why there is so much debate.

[The Real Maverick]

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...no-offensive-posts-no-nsfw.30686/post-1000467

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[NotARealTruck]

F*ck everybody else on the road, I can see. Mommy said I'm her special little boy and so I never grew up with the ability to comprehend that other people exist in the world. She says I'm all that matters and the world revolves around me. I'm VERY special.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Question: Why do LEDs feel so intense?
Response: LEDs often feel intense to human eyes for several interesting physiological and technical reasons:

1. Small Source Size:
- LEDs concentrate light from a very small area (often < 1mm²)o
- This creates extremely high luminance (brightness per unit area)
- Our eyes evolved dealing with larger, more diffuse sources
- When we look directly at an LED, this concentrated light hits a small retinal area

2. Blue Light Content:
- Many white LEDs use blue LEDs with phosphor coating
- The blue component is particularly stimulating to our retinas
- Our eyes are very sensitive to blue wavelengths
- This can cause more discomfort than equivalent warm sources

3. Sharp Spectral Peaks:
- LED spectra often have sharp peaks rather than smooth distributions
- This differs from natural light and incandescent sources
- Can trigger stronger biological responses
- May cause more glare sensitivity

4. Limited Natural Diffusion:
- Traditional sources naturally scattered light more
- LEDs need intentional diffusion added
- Without proper diffusion, the sharp contrast can be uncomfortable

-------------------------------
LED headlights are using LED chips when our eyes, and nervous system, aren't evolved to deal with such a light source. Limiting the intensity and blue wavelength light will somewhat mitigate the LED disaster, but in reality, headlamps must use technology that emits light that our eyes evolved with. This means car headlamps must use halogen/tungsten filament or similar, not tiny LED chips.

Sincerely,

Mark Baker
President
Soft Lights Foundation
www.softlights.org

 

[Potatomafia]

Automotive headlamps are governed by FMVSS No. 108, which was amended to allow Adaptive Driver Beam (ADB) headlamps:
https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...ive-devices-and-associated-equipment-adaptive

FMVSS No. 108 was started in 1968 (it predates the moon landing!) but has been amended multiple times as lighting technology progresses:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Motor_Vehicle_Safety_Standard_108

Europe has always had superior automotive lighting as their regulations allow for more light to the sides versus the US DOT standard which is why LHD E-code head light retrofit kits are so popular.

Basically, a better focused and aimed light beam is far superior and safer than the raw lumens arms race we have now. It irritates me when people immediately dismiss laser-source headlamps, which have active beam forming, just because they think that's it's a concentrated laser beam aimed at their face.

 

[JollyRed]

Buy night driving glasses.

As someone with an astigmatism it really hurts my night time driving in judging distance. Night driving “sun” glasses like computer glasses do help but by far the best has been my contacts specificly for astigmatism instead of Rx glasses and window tint including a very light front windshield do wonders.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Because I don't like night driving. I limit it to necessity.
I use prescription brown polarized gradient glasses for night driving. Yes they're old-fashioned, but they work for me.
Example: Pictured Below. Mine are not quite as dark. Sitting straight in the proper position. I look through the clear area of the glasses. When a car comes with lights that bother me, I lower my head a little and look through the shaded part.
I take care of the problem I have with night driving. NOT try and change things for everyone else.
We have mandated backup CAMERA'S because of a few.
Yes I said 'a few' again. Meaning a minority of numbers compared to the majority.
Now let's take this scenario a little further. I'm sure there's some cross over interest here.
It seems that a small minority of people who had horrific fatal mistakes backing over their children or pets were able to push their agenda and get back up cameras mandated for everyone, even though everyone doesn't have a problem with backing up without a camera. Because they were taught how to use their mirrors and turn their head to check what's behind them.

 

[NotARealTruck]

It irritates me when people immediately dismiss laser-source headlamps, which have active beam forming, just because they think that's it's a concentrated laser beam aimed at their face.

So that's great in theory but there's way too many scenarios where the beam isn't in a laboratory setting with fixed recommended heights and distances. I live in a hilly area and whenever these new cars come up over a hill it's LITERALLY like someone shining a laser beam directly at your skull. You get a tall vehicle being driven behind a short vehicle? Every time they hit a bump or crest a hill it's like someone threw a flashbang into my car. I cannot possibly fathom how this is safe for anyone.

If you can't see because it's dark, that's why highbeams exist. Headlights should not be bright enough to compete with 1000 suns because they don't need to. It's purely a small brained consumer mindset thinking "wow this car sure let's me see well" as you blind every other driver on the road. And regarding pedestrian safety? If someone is wearing all dark clothes at night, walking in a spot where they can get hit by a car, and gets hit by a car that's just darwinism at that point.

 

[scottp01]

And regarding pedestrian safety? If someone is wearing all dark clothes at night, walking in a spot where they can get hit by a car, and gets hit by a car that's just darwinism at that point.

I've actually had more close calls with pedestrians due to being blinded by other drivers headlights than not seeing the pedestrians with my own headlights. Your eyes adjust to the dark, but when someone shines a bright light at them it takes a second or two for them to adjust back.

 

[TwoTone]

Because I don't like night driving.
I use prescription polarized gradient glasses for night driving. Yes they're old-fashioned, but they work for me.
Example: Pictured Below. Mine are not quite as dark. Sitting straight in the proper position. I look through the clear area of the glasses. When a car comes with lights that bother me, I lower my head a little and look through the shaded part.
I take care of the problem I have with night driving. NOT try and change things for everyone else.
We have mandated backup CAMERA'S because of a few.
Yes I said 'a few' again. Meaning a minority of numbers compared to the majority.
Now let's take this scenario a little further. I'm sure there's some cross over interest here.
It seems that a small minority of people who had horrific fatal mistakes backing over their children or pets were able to push their agenda and get back up cameras mandated for everyone, even though everyone doesn't have a problem with backing up without a camera. Because they were taught how to use their mirrors and turn their head to check what's behind them.

I bet you couldn't see a lot of adults behind that pickup using mirrors.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Meanwhile....

"Snow-covered mountains and treetops? Pretty. Snow-covered headlights? Pretty dangerous. LED headlights on any car are prone to icing over when you’re driving in the snow, because they don’t emit as much heat as old halogen bulbs."

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Can dirty windshields cause increased glare from headlights?


A dusty or grimy windshield can be hard to see out of even in the daytime — and the evening or nighttime darkness makes it worse. Dirty windshields spread the glare of oncoming headlights, making it more difficult to see.
I wonder how many old half blind people complaining about bright headlights glaring. Haven't taken the time to clean their windshield inside and out?

I'm surprised they are not complaining about the sun being too bright.

 

[onemuir]

We're not talking about dimming from brights to regular - which the Maverick can do, depending on model and configuration. I think everyone can agree that leaving your brights on when oncoming traffic is near is inconsiderate at best, and can be dangerous.

We're talking about how even the "dim" headlights today can be far brighter than they used to be and cause problems for oncoming drivers. Some of that is because they ARE brighter, and some of it is because the color temperature many LEDs use can be more blinding than traditional headlights. Those problems are exacerbated when the headlights aren't aimed properly.

Alternately, some European headlights can have a lot more real-time adaptability - including turning off the light closest to oncoming traffic or dimming the center of the lane to focus the lights on the edges of the lane, among other possible features (and gimmicks). Unlike what one person said, that we just need to deal with "improved lighting," there are even better improvements possible which could make it safer for EVERYONE on the road.

Ok I’m jumping in on this! ‍
1. U.S. headlight laws are decades behind European standards. I don’t understand why we can’t adapt to better and safer standards
2. LED headlights seem brighter because there’s little refraction and no fluting on the lenses anymore. Just a smooth reflector and a clear flat lens.
3. (Here in the PNW) LOTS of people have put led bulbs in their older vehicles. The headlights were not designed for the led bulbs. The halogen bulbs were shorter and usually relied on the reflector then the fluting in the lens to disperse light properly. Putting a led bulb (in an older car) changes the direction of the light leaving the lens. Not only brighter, but blue/white color going all over the place.
4. On the subject of “fog lighting”. Almost every aftermarket “accessory” light is actually a work or flood beam not an actual “fog” light. Fog lighting has SAE requirements for beam cutoff height and will have a very distinctive lower than headlight “line”. So when you’re being blinded by those yellow “fog lights” those are technically illegal and “for offroad use only”. Real fog lights shouldn’t bother the oncoming driver. But cheap ones are still really expensive. The flood lights are really cheap and useless in foggy conditions.
My issue with the headlights is the blue ish color. When it’s raining I can barely tell if the lights are on. I’m going to try a yellow headlight tint on the driver side and see if that helps. It should help oncoming drivers as well.
Does anyone know if the high beams have a separate adjustment? Mine are terribly low.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I'm noticing more and more....

In professional video recordings, like TV network news...

LED headlamps overload the camera sensors while incandescents generally do not.

 

[The Real Maverick]

As of January 16, 2025

 

[HeyBales]

Meanwhile....

"Snow-covered mountains and treetops? Pretty. Snow-covered headlights? Pretty dangerous. LED headlights on any car are prone to icing over when you’re driving in the snow, because they don’t emit as much heat as old halogen bulbs."

So true - cities have discovered that on LED traffic lights that might not have come with improved visors to attempt to prevent snow buildup.

So now is there going to be a little heater for the headlamp air?
And because a driver may not wait until they can actually see (the number of drivers with no lights or DRL only still seems incredible) the light - it needs to be super fast to protect themselves from themselves.

"Ford holds 2026 cars/trucks on lots due to recall of headlamp heater!"

Oh wait - why heat the air - when you could heat headlamp fluid to retain heat better!

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