Topic: Modern car lights save lives

[tpl]

 From the BBC

In Germany, for instance, you could save 18% of the lives lost in traffic if all cars were equipped with Xenon headlights," he says, referring to a study by technical services firm TUV Rheinland.

But it is not only at night that lights save lives, according to the European Commission, which believes that up to 2,000 road fatalities could be prevented each year in Europe, simply by making daytime driving lights compulsory.

The article through here:            http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16215106


Interesting as the NTHSA is still musing about banning euro style HIDs in the USA as they have had some complaints about glare... which could be fixed by insisting on a) the EU light pattern and b) the Eu mandatory for HIDs self leveling system.

[Angry Chicken]

From the BBC

In Germany, for instance, you could save 18% of the lives lost in traffic if all cars were equipped with Xenon headlights," he says, referring to a study by technical services firm TUV Rheinland.

But it is not only at night that lights save lives, according to the European Commission, which believes that up to 2,000 road fatalities could be prevented each year in Europe, simply by making daytime driving lights compulsory.

The article through here:            http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16215106


Interesting as the NTHSA is still musing about banning euro style HIDs in the USA as they have had some complaints about glare... which could be fixed by insisting on a) the EU light pattern and b) the Eu mandatory for HIDs self leveling system.

Good catch.  I am amazed everytime I drive at night with our two cars equipped with HID headlights, just how much a difference they make.  They both have wide patterns with sharp cutoffs similar to the cutoff that wowed me with my first Hella H4 replacement headlights on a 77 Accord I owned in the mid 80s.

The Mazda has a manual leveller that allows me to lower the lights if the car is nose-high because of a load in the back.  I can't raise the beams above their preset maximum height.

[Vmango]

I agree. Since having HIDs on the WRX I can never go back. HIDs was one of the main reasons I opted for the limited.

[tpl]

One thing that may prevent me from buying a Golf Diesel rather than another GTI in a couple of years is that the diesels don't have HIDs even as an opt5ion. ( In the USA the Highline has  HIDs standard)

Against the HIDs GM insist on fitting them to the more expensive big Pickups with the USA beam pattern AND about 4 feet above ground so no matter how well aimed they are they STILL dazzle anyone in a regular height car.    When the revolution comes....

[DKaz]

I love HIDs, but yellow light is way better for wet road illumination.

[The Mighty Duck]

But it is not only at night that lights save lives, according to the European Commission, which believes that up to 2,000 road fatalities could be prevented each year in Europe, simply by making daytime driving lights compulsory.

I'm surprised DRLs aren't mandatory in Europe. Anytime I see a car without DRLs (usually older cars, obviously, but there's the occasional USDM vehicle too) I wonder WTH is wrong with the driver. Even in the dark/rain, some of these people can't be bothered to turn on their lights... 

[Fobroader]

One thing that may prevent me from buying a Golf Diesel rather than another GTI in a couple of years is that the diesels don't have HIDs even as an opt5ion. ( In the USA the Highline has  HIDs standard)

Against the HIDs GM insist on fitting them to the more expensive big Pickups with the USA beam pattern AND about 4 feet above ground so no matter how well aimed they are they STILL dazzle anyone in a regular height car.    When the revolution comes....

While I agree with you about the poor aiming and light pattern of the factory HIDs on most trucks/SUVs, it gets 10x worse if they get some aftermarket lights. Theres a guy in town with a lifted Dodge Ram and hes got aftermarket headlights and foglights. If hes behind you at night or coming towards you on a 2 lane road......well Imagine staring into the sun for about 5 minutes and youll have an idea. I think the aftermarket HIDs are the biggest problem because they are being put into housings that are not even remotely designed for HID lights. Plus theres the problem that 95% of the driving public has never had their headlights properly aimed.

[BradT]

We had the option to order the HID on our new vehicle, but opted against it mainly due the price if they fail outside of warranty.  We plan on keeping the car and a replacement bulb is a lot cheaper than an HID bulb or a ballast if it fails.  Are they as good as the HID, no, but they still do the job.

[tpl]

But it is not only at night that lights save lives, according to the European Commission, which believes that up to 2,000 road fatalities could be prevented each year in Europe, simply by making daytime driving lights compulsory.

I'm surprised DRLs aren't mandatory in Europe. Anytime I see a car without DRLs (usually older cars, obviously, but there's the occasional USDM vehicle too) I wonder WTH is wrong with the driver. Even in the dark/rain, some of these people can't be bothered to turn on their lights... 

They are mandatory in 1/2 of Europe. Since the late '70s in Sweden IIRC


I am sure that the Euros do NOT allow headlight on main beam as DRLS the way the USA/Canada do.  IIRC GM did not want to use purpose built drls for styling reasons, the regular front corner markers were not bright enough and they said that if they used dipped beam headlights then the filaments would burn out too soon and the customers would complain.   I think that the Transport Canada people should have told them to F off and o it the right way... but I wasn't asked.

[tpl]

One thing that may prevent me from buying a Golf Diesel rather than another GTI in a couple of years is that the diesels don't have HIDs even as an opt5ion. ( In the USA the Highline has  HIDs standard)

Against the HIDs GM insist on fitting them to the more expensive big Pickups with the USA beam pattern AND about 4 feet above ground so no matter how well aimed they are they STILL dazzle anyone in a regular height car.    When the revolution comes....

While I agree with you about the poor aiming and light pattern of the factory HIDs on most trucks/SUVs, it gets 10x worse if they get some aftermarket lights. There's a guy in town with a lifted Dodge Ram and hes got aftermarket headlights and foglights. If hes behind you at night or coming towards you on a 2 lane road......well Imagine staring into the sun for about 5 minutes and you'll have an idea. I think the aftermarket HIDs are the biggest problem because they are being put into housings that are not even remotely designed for HID lights. Plus there's the problem that 95% of the driving public has never had their headlights properly aimed.

Aftermarket HIDs especially bulbs that fit in a normal reflector should be illegal for sale in all provinces.  We have some of those lifted trucks around here as well.

[CarGuyJay]

One thing that may prevent me from buying a Golf Diesel rather than another GTI in a couple of years is that the diesels don't have HIDs even as an opt5ion. ( In the USA the Highline has  HIDs standard)

Against the HIDs GM insist on fitting them to the more expensive big Pickups with the USA beam pattern AND about 4 feet above ground so no matter how well aimed they are they STILL dazzle anyone in a regular height car.    When the revolution comes....

While I agree with you about the poor aiming and light pattern of the factory HIDs on most trucks/SUVs, it gets 10x worse if they get some aftermarket lights. There's a guy in town with a lifted Dodge Ram and hes got aftermarket headlights and foglights. If hes behind you at night or coming towards you on a 2 lane road......well Imagine staring into the sun for about 5 minutes and you'll have an idea. I think the aftermarket HIDs are the biggest problem because they are being put into housings that are not even remotely designed for HID lights. Plus there's the problem that 95% of the driving public has never had their headlights properly aimed.

Aftermarket HIDs especially bulbs that fit in a normal reflector should be illegal for sale in all provinces.  We have some of those lifted trucks around here as well.

  or at the very least have some sort of regulation that mandates proper installation and adjustment

[rrocket]

I am sure that the Euros do NOT allow headlight on main beam as DRLS the way the USA/Canada do.  IIRC GM did not want to use purpose built drls for styling reasons, the regular front corner markers were not bright enough and they said that if they used dipped beam headlights then the filaments would burn out too soon and the customers would complain.   I think that the Transport Canada people should have told them to F off and o it the right way... but I wasn't asked.

Most of the DRL are merely the high beams running at lower voltage.  Most cars don't have HID highbeams because they take a bit to "warm up".

Some of the very newest cars that use HID for the high beam have a moveable reflector.  The does away with the need to allowing the bulbs to warm up.

[tpl]

I am sure that the Euros do NOT allow headlight on main beam as DRLS the way the USA/Canada do.  IIRC GM did not want to use purpose built drls for styling reasons, the regular front corner markers were not bright enough and they said that if they used dipped beam headlights then the filaments would burn out too soon and the customers would complain.   I think that the Transport Canada people should have told them to F off and o it the right way... but I wasn't asked.

Most of the DRL are merely the high beams running at lower voltage.  Most cars don't have HID highbeams because they take a bit to "warm up".

Some of the very newest cars that use HID for the high beam have a moveable reflector.  The does away with the need to allowing the bulbs to warm up.

HID "bulbs" run at one output only.   Turn the voltage down and the arc goes out.  I suppose that you could make a "dimmable" HID which would probably work just as badly as a dimmable compact fluorescent.  Most real cars with HIDs do have high and low beams done, as you say, by a moveable flap inside the housing. Some cars have  a separate conventional halogen light unit for the DRLs...BMWs do this.  Newer HIDS come up to full brightness in  just a few seconds  unlike,say, the ones in my 2000 A4 which took 20 seconds to really get warmed up. ( That car was low beam only)  My Golf uses the HIDs for drls and lo/hi beam all at the same brightness.

[ktm525]

But it is not only at night that lights save lives, according to the European Commission, which believes that up to 2,000 road fatalities could be prevented each year in Europe, simply by making daytime driving lights compulsory.

I'm surprised DRLs aren't mandatory in Europe. Anytime I see a car without DRLs (usually older cars, obviously, but there's the occasional USDM vehicle too) I wonder WTH is wrong with the driver. Even in the dark/rain, some of these people can't be bothered to turn on their lights... 

They are mandatory in 1/2 of Europe. Since the late '70s in Sweden IIRC


I am sure that the Euros do NOT allow headlight on main beam as DRLS the way the USA/Canada do.  IIRC GM did not want to use purpose built drls for styling reasons, the regular front corner markers were not bright enough and they said that if they used dipped beam headlights then the filaments would burn out too soon and the customers would complain.   I think that the Transport Canada people should have told them to F off and o it the right way... but I wasn't asked.

I believe Land Rover used the main lights (xenon) as DRLs in Europe on the LR3. The Xenons on the LR3 are amazing, the best I have experienced by far. The xenon projector moves up or down for low and high beam. The high beams are supplemented by a very bright halogen light. The neatest trick the lights have is they swivel left and right with the steering (ala Tucker) as well as raise or lower if the car is going uphill/downhill. They also automatically adjust if I am towing or heavily loaded in the rear.

[quadzilla]

How about just painting lines on the road so I can see where the lanes are. Try driving on the 404 north of Markham in the rain at night. Terrifying.

[vdk]

How about just painting lines on the road so I can see where the lanes are. Try driving on the 404 north of Markham in the rain at night. Terrifying.

It's the paint they use... the rain diminishes the reflection provided back to you.

[dr_spock]

How about just painting lines on the road so I can see where the lanes are. Try driving on the 404 north of Markham in the rain at night. Terrifying.

It is not that bad if you use your imagination.   

[gosteelerz]

I'm glad everyone loves HIDs.  I for one am sick and tired being blinded by them.  Euro SUVs seem to be the worst offenders.  The only time I wish for better illumination is on rainy nights and I am not sure HIDs make a lick of difference there.  Every time I get blinded by an oncoming set I ask myself how they even became legal.

Call me a troll but I truly hate them.  In the city and the burbs, the roads are lit enough that you can almost see without lights.  In the country my old fashioned highbeams throw out plenty of illumination.

[tpl]

But it is not only at night that lights save lives, according to the European Commission, which believes that up to 2,000 road fatalities could be prevented each year in Europe, simply by making daytime driving lights compulsory.

I'm surprised DRLs aren't mandatory in Europe. Anytime I see a car without DRLs (usually older cars, obviously, but there's the occasional USDM vehicle too) I wonder WTH is wrong with the driver. Even in the dark/rain, some of these people can't be bothered to turn on their lights... 

They are mandatory in 1/2 of Europe. Since the late '70s in Sweden IIRC


I am sure that the Euros do NOT allow headlight on main beam as DRLS the way the USA/Canada do.  IIRC GM did not want to use purpose built drls for styling reasons, the regular front corner markers were not bright enough and they said that if they used dipped beam headlights then the filaments would burn out too soon and the customers would complain.   I think that the Transport Canada people should have told them to F off and o it the right way... but I wasn't asked.

I believe Land Rover used the main lights (xenon) as DRLs in Europe on the LR3. The Xenons on the LR3 are amazing, the best I have experienced by far. The xenon projector moves up or down for low and high beam. The high beams are supplemented by a very bright halogen light. The neatest trick the lights have is they swivel left and right with the steering (ala Tucker) as well as raise or lower if the car is going uphill/downhill. They also automatically adjust if I am towing or heavily loaded in the rear.

Using the main lights on dipped beam is fine.  The side to side movement of the lights is indeed cool. I think some BMWs, M-Bs and Audiss do this now as well. Citroens used to do it in the 1950s.   The up and down thing aka the leveling is mandatory in the EU.

As for the extra bright halogen lights additional to the HID high beams, I am not sure that is legal in the USA anyway. SOme regulation about the total candlepower and number of bright lights at the front. Must be legal or LR wouldn't do it.

[safristi]

what would "save more lives" gawd how i hate that conjecture....is auto lights ON ALL vehicles.......if it's below a certain Lumen out their...foggy,heavily overcast,pre dawn and sunset.. et al.....the damn lights ALL OF THEM COME ON...............Hell leave them ON ALWAYS and be done with it.................but still the silly buggers will load their special vehicles up with FOG SPOT and FANCY aftermarket BLINDERS i use that in the pejorative sense................