Posted on 1st Feb 2020 @ 8:13 PM
Time to cull the candela? I think so. My lenses can’t take the lumens and my long held thoughts over it seem reflected and highlighted.
“According to police data, accident investigators report ‘dazzling headlamps’ as an influence in 10 fatal crashes, nearly 70 serious accidents and more than 250 other accidents.
Bicycle lights can be just as dazzling
Given the improved performance of bicycle lights, they can be just as dazzling for oncoming traffic. Especially if the rider hasn’t correctly positioned the light to ensure the light beam isn’t in the direct eyeline of oncoming drivers.”
https://blog.greenflag.com/.../why-are-modern-cars.../
It is past time for National and Federal Authorities to take action against this dangerous trend that endangers our roads at night.
The way to do it is to ask a trade associations and other representative bodies (like the AA) to pick up the cudgel and lend support to the UN's working party in culling cruel candle power.
The ISO and EU's standards committees are the organ for determining minimum standards of safety for (vehicle) sales (in the EU) but I'm afraid I sit only on those for the safety of breathing equipment; not lights or motor cars and I'm thus little use in illuminating these over- bright hazards.
Such committees are populated with folk put up by various, interested representative bodies, as technical experts and therefore, there are always interests vested in things other than safety. But it is all done in the name of safety, "consumer protection" and "level playing fields".
The technology exists to machinate lights that change intensity and colour, automatically to suit road, light and weather conditions. It's easier than fixing those fancy headlamps that "look round corners" for you but manufacturers don't do such things unless it adds sex appeal - - - and (especially the German) car builders are too full of "Vorsprung durch technik" - and promoting lighting better suited to catching escapees from Stalag IX, in their advertising - than to bother moulding their theme to the pansy issue of safety and stuff like the problem of driving in glasses on a wet night!
I think the great British public buys cars based not on "safety" but more for personal image and I notice the tenor of the maker's advertising very much reflects the type of customers who buy their products - Anecdotal, of course but well supported by the actuarially painstaking ABI, in its drift.
I have mentioned names and pack-drills before but am very taken with the idea of an Ad that says: "*** (Logo) says more about you than having dickhead stamped on your forehead ever could"
"Get a head and light the way to road safety with ***** (Logo)" ......... I must mention this idea to BMW's marketing staff.
I digress: the article from "Honest John" was at pains to point out: "All cars sold for road use in the UK have to be fitted with headlights that conform to standards set by the EU in line with the United Nations' World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. The UN's Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling is currently looking at the issue of headlight glare in response to public concerns."
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/driving-1/2018-03/modern-headlight-brightness-causing-safety-dangers/?fbclid=IwAR13VIe3K8rsv1hN-LJyNAfiRCnsEcgtGA9nnlLoEDm2ZOq2JORLBFLcpQY
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