I'm reasonably sure that my 2024 car has more than simply full-beam and dipped headlight settings - automatically controlled, of course! In principle, there's a lot could be done to shape the beam to the road and oncoming traffic conditions, including with LEDS, of course, changing their colour. It's a great time to be discussing the problem! enjoy...
I’m so glad you are drawing attention to this. I’m not sure though that this is a SUV and ‘cool design’ problem. I think people want brighter lights because they think it’s safer. A classic tragedy of the commons problem. Go into your local Halfords and you’ll see a range of bulbs marketed as 150-200% brighter. And when I’m dazzled on country roads it’s as likely to be a sedan or hatchback as a Range Rover.
You mention bright headlights and also the massive size of modern SUVs. They are also massive (literally) in that their mass is vast. A hybrid large SUV weighs well over 3 tonnes. Such vehicles kill pedestrians on impact at very low speeds.
If you ask people (mostly living in built up areas driving short distances) why they own such a big vehicle: “it keeps me safe”.
Just back from a 1200 mile road trip in the U.K. and that shortly after a similar trip to France, I note that the motorways here are full of “middle lane hoggers”
The interlinking point here is selfishness.
I sense we have degenerated into a low trust society, one outcome of which is people no longer being community minded but only doing what selfishly works for them.
Many of those bright lights are oncoming drivers who don’t even consider dipping their main beams.
What will change this ? Let’s start with politicians being honest and truthful.
This is a major issue in rural/semi-rural areas - thanks for raising it.
Not sure if reliance on sensors is partly to blame for this as well, but I notice that fewer and fewer people dip their headlights.
Increased car size means that quite a few roads round us are more or less blocked to pedestrians, because people park up on the pavement.
I'm reasonably sure that my 2024 car has more than simply full-beam and dipped headlight settings - automatically controlled, of course! In principle, there's a lot could be done to shape the beam to the road and oncoming traffic conditions, including with LEDS, of course, changing their colour. It's a great time to be discussing the problem! enjoy...
I’m so glad you are drawing attention to this. I’m not sure though that this is a SUV and ‘cool design’ problem. I think people want brighter lights because they think it’s safer. A classic tragedy of the commons problem. Go into your local Halfords and you’ll see a range of bulbs marketed as 150-200% brighter. And when I’m dazzled on country roads it’s as likely to be a sedan or hatchback as a Range Rover.
You mention bright headlights and also the massive size of modern SUVs. They are also massive (literally) in that their mass is vast. A hybrid large SUV weighs well over 3 tonnes. Such vehicles kill pedestrians on impact at very low speeds.
If you ask people (mostly living in built up areas driving short distances) why they own such a big vehicle: “it keeps me safe”.
Just back from a 1200 mile road trip in the U.K. and that shortly after a similar trip to France, I note that the motorways here are full of “middle lane hoggers”
The interlinking point here is selfishness.
I sense we have degenerated into a low trust society, one outcome of which is people no longer being community minded but only doing what selfishly works for them.
Many of those bright lights are oncoming drivers who don’t even consider dipping their main beams.
What will change this ? Let’s start with politicians being honest and truthful.