H.I.D. Lights.

[martin]

I've been chatting to our lovely old fashioned MOT tester about HID lights, he tells me that, while you can tell through the beam setter that they are VERY bright, there is no way to measure how bright, and if you can't quantify, DOT is not interested, through the complex lens pattern on dipped lights, you can not tell what's fitted. Martin.

[Pete]

Sorry, can't stand them. In the country, they are as bright and glaring as non-dipped lights if not more so. They may be good for the driver, but they are a hazard to others.

[ChasR]

Indeedy I too have found this.

What seems to be the happy compromise between you at other motorists are a set of relays and good bulbs (Osram Silverstars do the job very well). For a further benefit the Cibie lights seem to kick out more light than the cheaper alternatives (but the mirrors in cheaper item do not look too hot if I am honest!).

[pilkie]

I HATE THEM!!!
Almost have to wear sunglasses driving at night sometimes!
And these new fangled LED,HID side lights that look like angry eybrows!!

[marshman]

Sorry, can't stand them. In the country, they are as bright and glaring as non-dipped lights if not more so. They may be good for the driver, but they are a hazard to others.

I couldn't agree more.

[Rubce]

HID lights are a dazzle nuisance to other road users and makes their correct alignment far more critical than other types. Unfortunately a lot people don't maintain their cars properly although I know that probably doesn't apply to anyone on here. Bruce

[jleyton]

I reckon a lot must be to do with the car more than the lights themselves. My daily car has them and I've covered 60,000 miles without being flashed once.

In fact, I've been driving (in another car !) towards my own car when my son was driving it and absolutely no dazzle.

They have to be self levelling and maybe it's all down to how they were set up from new ?

Cheers

Julian

[Staghound]

Sorry,I dislike them too,the 'blue' effect is intensely annoying even when I'm sat 10 feet up in my 44 tonner!

[Pete]

I don't tend to flash people (either with my lights or, ahem....) even if I have been dazzled. I can usually work out who has HID and who has left their lights on main beam, by the colour of the beam. If it's not one end, then it's the other with drivers at lights or junctions keeping their foot on the brake peddle rather than using the hand brake. Their clutches won't thank them either but Mr Clutch will.

Don't like the current trend for fairy lights either and rear LED lights have an annoying memory effect on your eye as you sweep from road to rear mirror.

[wilf]

One of the problems affecting poor headlamp aim is speed humps - they can knock the headlamps off aim, and in extreme cases break the auto-adjuster mechanisms.

MOT tester I was chatting with recently told me that 75% of all the cars he tests need headlamps resetting.

[Duncan Skye]

One of the problems affecting poor headlamp aim is speed humps - they can knock the headlamps off aim, and in extreme cases break the auto-adjuster mechanisms.

MOT tester I was chatting with recently told me that 75% of all the cars he tests need headlamps resetting.

That's likely the problem then, and the new MOT rules are designed to (hopefully) catch it. It's going to be interesting to see if the incidences of dazzle are reduced once these changes begin to get a grip.

I never flash anyone with my headlights either - If someone is dazzling me, I flick my beams off and on again, briefly. It seems to work and will hopefully be less annoying to the oncoming driver, hopefully making them less stubborn.

Also agree with the number of drivers that sit on their brake pedal rather than use the handbrake. These LED brake lights seem just as dazzling as the rear fog light but short of hopping out and knocking on the drivers window, there's no way of getting the message across. Time for a national campaign by the government or a leaflet along with the road fund tax reminder, I think.

Also, I think drivers are slower to dip their headlamps these days. It's done from the steering wheel stalk now rather than from a button under your foot on the floor. Pressing a button under your foot always seemed the quicker to me as at night your foot was seldom off it, but drivers hands could be anywhere other than by the stalk.

That's my daily discharge of snorting indignance. Rant over.

Duncan, Skye.