It’s also common with European cars, which are much lower and yet have increasingly bright (and bluer?) lights.
Comment on Why have we as a society just accepted the increasingly blinding bright lights of cars?
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 3 weeks ago
Its (like many things) mostly the us’s fault. A slide away from rules into vibe based everything.
I remember a long time ago when I was first getting my license you had to pass a headlight test where you parked in a spot and there where painted lines on a wall for both high and low beams. It was how you adjusted your lights and was common in Canada. Now no one even knows what I am talking about. The rules are still there but no one enforces them and most forgot they can even adjust their lights (not sure new cars and trucks can be anymore).
Manufacturers in North America are now putting their lights so high up on vehicles and use such bright piercing lights on everything that night driving has become a nightmare. The answer to getting blinded is now to out blind others, its madness.
lord_ryvan@ttrpg.network 2 weeks ago
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 weeks ago
The brightness is an issue, but the placement and angle are the bigger problem. Its the slippery slope of following american trends. Years ago Mercedes Benz (I think) put out a car that used IR light and a heads up screen (no visible headlights, just running lights) showing the driver the night landscape without needing to blind everyone. It was banned in the states, no real reason why but the idea went dead.
Ajen@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
Was it banned in other countries too, or is there some other reason it isn’t used?
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 2 weeks ago
Cost, probably
Mercedes put it in the S-Class, their flagship. They can afford fancy extras there.
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 weeks ago
Not sure, but the tech is old and tested (almost all cold war era things used IR lights). The issue is I think they can sell the super terrible bright lights as “safety” features. And a lot of consumer trends are american based and just forced on the world.
Unstoppable_Flop@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Without actual headlights I’m certain someone would pull out in front of you, people are dumb
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 weeks ago
Running lights are a thing, and I see enough people driving with only them at night now.
Alpha71@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
It was banned in the states
UV scare. They had to use UV lights to make it work. But they weren’t on the same wavelength as say a tanning bed but people made a noise about it anyways.
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 weeks ago
No IR not UV. Not the same wavelength UV and IR are on the opposite sides of the visual spectrum.
TheReanuKeeves@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I love that people are asking me if I have some kind of visual deficiency when the phenomenon of blinding lights is so common that it’s in the simpsons from 27 years ago lol
M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 weeks ago
Its gotten to a point that seems impossible, just full clown world. Its gotten to the point that my favorite car to drive at night is my Fiero, because I am so low I am below most of the blinding lights.
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip 2 weeks ago
And those are “only” halogen. It’s gotten much worse since then. Like you said, a sort of arms race.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 2 weeks ago
I mean they also say “high intensity” which implies HIDs rather than halogens to me, and those require a clear cutoff unlike halogens/incandescents.