The problem has nothing to do with the light technology. It has to do with the cutoffs and properly aiming the headlights. Also tall vehicles have higher headlights even if aimed properly.
IMO regarding LED headlights, it mostly has to do with manufacturers putting LEDs in reflector housing.
Because of the way LED boards are, you can’t get a centric light. Standard LED boards are a cob, the best being those thin blades, but none of them are suitable for a pure reflector set up without pissing light everywhere.
LED head lights belong strictly in projector housings in order to have good cut off and spread. I drove an IONIQ 5 ultimate last year, and the head lights were shockingly bad. Not only did light piss everywhere, but it was downright dangerous in an urban setting as it would not illuminate the side walks nor the side of the road, so I could not see pedestrians waiting to cross at night.
I retrofitted the projector beam headlights in my 2020 Elantra with Diode Dynamics SL2 Pros, and after a height adjustment, they don’t blind anyone, nor bleed everywhere, have a great sharp-but-not-too-sharp cut off due to the mechanical shutter, and I can see the sides of the road clearly. They’re also not overly bright. I now have a 2026 K4 Hatchback, and the LED projectors are also great.
Lumens produced by headlights in the 80s was significantly less than the lumens produced today. Less than 1000 back then and typically 2000 or so today. The light was a warmer yellow then and white/blue today which eyes are more sensitive to.
About 80% of cars on the road still use halogen bulbs, the same ones from the 80s. Lumens isn’t the problem, it’s lux, I.E. how much light hits the road (and other drivers eyes), which is influenced as much by the housing as the light source.
The actual problem is the terribly lax enforcement of glare and cutoff standards, along woth pretty much no standards on anything else related to the housing.
As often as not, you’re getting blinded by a halogen with a housing that shouldn’t be legal.
But wait, there’s more! You and I both want those housings banned, but I read a study recently showing they’re saving lives more, even if they’re annoying. So, oh well.
Interesting because old cars without a light cutoff seem to blind me more than modern cars and those people would usually be getting closer to you with high beams beause their low beams don’t show shit, meaning even more blinding light.
The problem has nothing to do with the light technology. It has to do with the cutoffs and properly aiming the headlights. Also tall vehicles have higher headlights even if aimed properly.
even if they’re properly aimed stupidly bright headlights still blind people on hills or around corners
also automatic high beams can fuck off
IMO regarding LED headlights, it mostly has to do with manufacturers putting LEDs in reflector housing.
Because of the way LED boards are, you can’t get a centric light. Standard LED boards are a cob, the best being those thin blades, but none of them are suitable for a pure reflector set up without pissing light everywhere.
LED head lights belong strictly in projector housings in order to have good cut off and spread. I drove an IONIQ 5 ultimate last year, and the head lights were shockingly bad. Not only did light piss everywhere, but it was downright dangerous in an urban setting as it would not illuminate the side walks nor the side of the road, so I could not see pedestrians waiting to cross at night.
I retrofitted the projector beam headlights in my 2020 Elantra with Diode Dynamics SL2 Pros, and after a height adjustment, they don’t blind anyone, nor bleed everywhere, have a great sharp-but-not-too-sharp cut off due to the mechanical shutter, and I can see the sides of the road clearly. They’re also not overly bright. I now have a 2026 K4 Hatchback, and the LED projectors are also great.
tall vehicles could have low beams but they make the front of the car look ridiculous therefore unmarketable.
Meh, modern split headlight designs allow you to have a marketable front-end with headlights at the correct height.
Look at the Kona for example. The DRLs are way at the top yet the head lights are at the fender line. I think it looks good.
Kona is doing headlights pretty good imo
Back in the 80s this was never an issue no matter how large the truck. It’s definitely related to light technology.
Yea, sure. And back in the 80s I was younger, so technology must be why I’m older now.
Look at the height of an 80s truck compared to today.
Also, do the LED bulbs in your house blind you, too?
Lumens produced by headlights in the 80s was significantly less than the lumens produced today. Less than 1000 back then and typically 2000 or so today. The light was a warmer yellow then and white/blue today which eyes are more sensitive to.
About 80% of cars on the road still use halogen bulbs, the same ones from the 80s. Lumens isn’t the problem, it’s lux, I.E. how much light hits the road (and other drivers eyes), which is influenced as much by the housing as the light source.
The actual problem is the terribly lax enforcement of glare and cutoff standards, along woth pretty much no standards on anything else related to the housing.
As often as not, you’re getting blinded by a halogen with a housing that shouldn’t be legal.
But wait, there’s more! You and I both want those housings banned, but I read a study recently showing they’re saving lives more, even if they’re annoying. So, oh well.
Interesting because old cars without a light cutoff seem to blind me more than modern cars and those people would usually be getting closer to you with high beams beause their low beams don’t show shit, meaning even more blinding light.