Modern Driving Lights......observation

[weeds]

Of late I have been punching out quite a few kilometers of night driving for work....think west of Dalby (not the Bruce hi-way where there is a constant flow of on coming cars)

What I found is with every man and his dog fitting HID's, light bars and burn your retina out lights is that you have to drop tops beam way earlier than years ago and now have to travel kilometers on low til you and the other car cross paths than you can light the road up......

Soooooo, i have been experimenting. It stead of dropping to low beam when the other car drops his and suddenly we both only have candle lights for the next two to three minutes I switch the spot lights of an leave high beam on....than as the gap closes I than drop to low beam.

I did this approx. 15 times, one ute may  not have been impressed as I forgot to drop hi-beam.

What i found is I had more light available for longer........if only only car had a two position hi-beam switch as my spot light switch is in a bugger of a spot.

[HKB Electronics]

Yes is a big difference going from a light bar or spotties to low beams, the light bars generate much more light reflections
back of the road so you then have the issue of dropping to low beams with much lower output and your eyes then
having to adjust to the lower ambient light feeding back. As for the oncoming vehicle retina burn will probably have ruined
their eyes anyway!

Another aspect is the adjustment of the lights, if correctly adjusted they should be pointing down slightly which should reduce dazzle
to the oncoming vehicle. I think a lot when they set them up see a lot of light coming back of the road and adjust the lights up thinking
there pointing down and lifting will give more range, in the case of light bars at least this is not the case. I have played with adjusting them on a long flat section of dark road and find lifting the beam up makes little difference to range better off keeping the beam slightly low for good short to medium distance lighting.

[weeds]

Good tips but......trucks were probably 50% of the traffic than you have our nice bouncy roads which make the light go up and as well

[KingBilly]

Can you reposition your spottie switch?  I have been using your method for years with success.

KB

[weeds]

Er dunno........haven't really look.

[Foo]

I drive out that way a lot, in the truck and I drop mine when the oncoming is effecting me but if you leave yours up, then it's fork you and mine go back up. 

Here's a hint for people driving at night. When coming into a bend, up a hill or a dip in the road, drop ya friggin lights before you see the on coming vehicle at the point in time when, both sets of lights intersect.  Than give a flash before you see them if they are knobs and haven't drop their lights. 

Foo

[stabicraft]

And another most annoying habit is the "LOOK AT ME LIGHTS" THAT EVERY MAN AND HIS DOG HAS THESE DAYS.

Just a quick note, you may be able to see better with them on, but someone coming the other way is blinded by your lights.

I have just fitted 130 watt spots, look at me lights get the full beam as they come at me.
If I cant friggin see, why should you be able to see?

[weeds]

I drive out that way a lot, in the truck and I drop mine when the oncoming is effecting me but if you leave yours up, then it's fork you and mine go back up. 

Here's a hint for people driving at night. When coming into a bend, up a hill or a dip in the road, drop ya friggin lights before you see the on coming vehicle at the point in time when, both sets of lights intersect.  Than give a flash before you see them if they are knobs and haven't drop their lights. 

Foo

Er I wasn't talking about those that don't dip.....I fact 99% of the time everybody dips well in advance........I think it natural for everybody to give a reminder if the approaching hasn't dropped. I have at times forgot.......

What I was saying is that with these modern powerful lights we need to drop a long time earlier which means we have just low beam for twice maybe three times as long.

[weeds]

And another most annoying habit is the "LOOK AT ME LIGHTS" THAT EVERY MAN AND HIS DOG HAS THESE DAYS.

Just a quick note, you may be able to see better with them on, but someone coming the other way is blinded by your lights.

I have just fitted 130 watt spots, look at me lights get the full beam as they come at me.
If I cant friggin see, why should you be able to see?

Was kinda hoping this thread didn't get into beat ya chest thread........

HID and LED army going away.......

I was just passing on how j have overcome dipping all lights when we are still 3km apart.

[Troopy_03]

Totally agree weeds, Oncoming lights are much more dazzling at further distances with spots, LED light bars not really though. And I do the same, drop back to High Beam when approaching vehicle is well over 1Km away, then back to low beam as per normal, when they get closer.

[Foo]

Er I wasn't talking about those that don't dip.....I fact 99% of the time everybody dips well in advance........I think it natural for everybody to give a reminder if the approaching hasn't dropped. I have at times forgot.......

What I was saying is that with these modern powerful lights we need to drop a long time earlier which means we have just low beam for twice maybe three times as long.

Low beam is way much better also, so I don't get my knickers in a knot, if I have to drop much earlier. 

Foo

[oldmate]

Was kinda hoping this thread didn't get into beat ya chest thread........

HID and LED army going away.......

I was just passing on how j have overcome dipping all lights when we are still 3km apart.

Some can't help it.

I can see what your saying though. I just try to not drive at night, but that doesn't help for those that have too

[weeds]

Some can't help it.

I can see what your saying though. I just try to not drive at night, but that doesn't help for those that have too

I too prefer not to be doing long hauls at night......some for work you just gotta do it.

[Johnnos3003]

Here's a hint for people driving at night. When coming into a bend, up a hill or a dip in the road, drop ya friggin lights before you see the on coming vehicle

amen, sorry I know is not the topic but is also a personal pet hate of mine