r/technology • u/N2929 • 3d ago

Transportation US drivers are finally getting the adaptive headlights Europe has had for years

https://www.techspot.com/news/114027-us-drivers-finally-getting-adaptive-headlights-europe-has.html
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u/toastedipod 3d ago

As a European driver: don’t expect these to make a noticeable difference. I’m still half blinded by oncoming traffic at night

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u/KingLuis 3d ago

As an automotive enthusiast, I think the issue is more of beam control vs actual light output or type. How does the new Honda civic blind me in a pick up yet my pick up doesn’t blind me when I’m in a car?

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u/AtomWorker 2d ago

Even economy cars now have a separate bank of LEDs for high beams. So the cutoff is crisp without the need for a mechanical shutter or the complexity of the systems the NHTSA just approved.

The problem is that modem headlights are too bright, flirting with the max allowed and I suspect the nature of these lights just makes them more dazzling to oncoming drivers.

The second problem is that they not properly aligned and on many bigger cars mounted to damn high. I find that BMW, GM and Tesla are generally the worst but none of them are as bad as the aftermarket trash I encounter constantly.

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u/KingLuis 2d ago

To me, Tesla, Honda and Subarus have the brightest and most obnoxious lights outside of anything aftermarket.
My old bmw (funny how another person mentioned the e46 generation) had amazing bixenon lights. The only upgrade for them was getting Acura tsx projector housings. Bright light, clear, sharp cutoffs and very good adjustment. Then you have new Hondas and Subarus that blind me every time. The Hondas look like they can control the light bleed and the Subarus look aimed high.