Please stop flashing your lights at me

[drum]

Originally posted by: Aflac
I think we should just abolish headlights and install street lamps everywhere.

brilliant!

end of thread!

 

[EKKC]

dont drive. problem solved
/thread

seriously, people with HID lights dont realize how annoying they are. especially those after market ones. you see a acura or BMW, those factory HID lights are bearable, but you go see some rice rocket 1999 Accord or Civic sporting HID lights, those are friggin too bright

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Dirigible

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
one night i had some dumba$$ SUV behind my flashing his lights at me... we were going down a pretty curvy road, and i was going faster than the speed limit. i ended up pulling over it was getting so annoying, and the SUV just went straight by... w-t-f mate?

you were too slow he wanted to get by you or you to speed up more..

the road was 40mph, i was doing 55-60 in my VW passat which has far better handling than the SUV... i hardly see how he could want to go faster

He obviously did want to go faster. Let those people by (as you did). It takes just a few seconds to pull over and let them by, and it's much better to have them in front of you than behind you with their road rage building...

Edit for full disclosure: I've been that guy before. I used to live on a windy mountain road. On weekdays, it was fine. All the locals would immediately pull over for each other when we saw someone behind us (I was far from the fastest).

But on weekends it was a nightmare. Bunch of tourists driving painfully slow, completely ignoring the turnouts. I wanted to kill them all. I didn't care if they were going over the speed limit, if I knew I could drive significantly faster and they were slowing me down and refused to move over, it really pissed me off. I did a less-than-safe passing manuever a few times (ashamed of it, hopefully I wouldn't do it again now that I'm older).

If someone is behind you, let them by. It's safer for everyone.

it took a while before i was actually able to pull off somewhere and let this person by... but you shouldnt tailgate/flash people to go faster when they're already speeding!

hell, if anything, *MY* car should have been the one speeding, seeing as i would have actually been able to take the curves at higher speeds (god bless my lowered suspension)

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
My friends has a Dodge Neon with standard halogen head lights, but the damn things are aimed horribly wrong. You can see it when you're riding in the car and the tops of the trees going by are illuminated. As a result people are always flashing their high beams at him thinking his brights are on. Rather than get it fixed, he likes being a jerk about it and flashes his high beams back at the person, further blinding them! One of these days the other person is gonna swerve into his lane and give him a nice head on, lol.

Well if that's the case then his high beams will probably be leveled even higher and would appear less intense to cars in front of him than his low-beams, and they would probably barely illuminate the road. Unless his high beam lamps are in a separate assembly.

Originally posted by: ebaycj
BLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINDED BY THE LIGHT

Wrapped up like a douche, another runner in the night!

(Yes I know).

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: DougK62
I get people flashing me ALL THE TIME during the day when I drive my 96 Chevy Corsica. The DRLs on it use the high-beams but at a very low power. Dumbasses still think I have my brights on. Some people just like to be dicks.

Again I don't think they're really being dicks if they're actually that annoyed by your lights. But I'm surprised they're bothered by your DRLs.

No - they're really being dicks. There is no possible way they can bother someone driving - they're very dim. They just see that the location on my headlights where the high beams are (the "inner" portion) is lit up, so they think it's their job to be some sort of traffic cop.

 

[QED]

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: DougK62
I get people flashing me ALL THE TIME during the day when I drive my 96 Chevy Corsica. The DRLs on it use the high-beams but at a very low power. Dumbasses still think I have my brights on. Some people just like to be dicks.

Again I don't think they're really being dicks if they're actually that annoyed by your lights. But I'm surprised they're bothered by your DRLs.

No - they're really being dicks. There is no possible way they can bother someone driving - they're very dim. They just see that the location on my headlights where the high beams are (the "inner" portion) is lit up, so they think it's their job to be some sort of traffic cop.

I don't know too many people who give two sh!ts about your headlights unless you are blinding them. I think you give people way too much credit for thinking they can actually see which headlight (inner or outer) is on, and base the fact they believe your brights are on as a result of that.

 

[Phoenix86]

edit: whoops hit post instead of reply.

Originally posted by: Nohr
The common denominator is you.

(from another thread but I thought it applied very well here)

What's more likey happening...?

People are jealous of your HIDs and are flashing you because of it.
People simply like to flash you, for no reason at all. They leave other drivers alone.
Your headlights are blinding them.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: QED

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: DougK62
I get people flashing me ALL THE TIME during the day when I drive my 96 Chevy Corsica. The DRLs on it use the high-beams but at a very low power. Dumbasses still think I have my brights on. Some people just like to be dicks.

Again I don't think they're really being dicks if they're actually that annoyed by your lights. But I'm surprised they're bothered by your DRLs.

No - they're really being dicks. There is no possible way they can bother someone driving - they're very dim. They just see that the location on my headlights where the high beams are (the "inner" portion) is lit up, so they think it's their job to be some sort of traffic cop.

I don't know too many people who give two sh!ts about your headlights unless you are blinding them. I think you give people way too much credit for thinking they can actually see which headlight (inner or outer) is on, and base the fact they believe your brights are on as a result of that.

I'm not making this up. I have been told this several times while stopping for gas, waiting at stoplight, etc.

My Corsica is an old car. It's VERY easy to tell which light is lit up. Check out this image: http://www.dmcnews.com/Techsection/xenons/426p1010034.jpg Do you really think that people can't tell inner from outer on a vehicle like this? In people's heads, inner means "you have your brights on so you're an asshole and I should flash you".

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: funboy42
There are 4 reasons to get flashed.

4. They think for some reason your high beams are on. This happens get used to it its part of driving and I am sure there have been times you had on comming traffic and thought it was so bright they had thier highs on and they didnt while you were saying "red neck white trailer trash fvcker turn off you high beams". Just get over it and the fact that they are not stupid just a little confused maybe and stop whining on the internet about it like a 5 year old baby because you dont like it
Ever think that you may be on ground thats slightly higer then what they are driving on so it will give the illusion that your highs are on and same goes the other way?

3. Your fvcking headlights are out of adjustment. Yes Yes they may be level but to far to the left.

2. You decided that you cant see so you bought the ones that replicate the same light as the sun so in that case your going to get flashed no matter what.

But if thoes are not the case and your a new driver the #1 reason for you to be flashed for no reason is..........

OUT of respect because they just passed a fvcking cop and want to warn you incase you are speeding!

I hope its the #1 reason and as you call them an idiot redneck POS and should die for warining you, a cop pulls out and writes you a ticket. And I hope he just moved from the south and is in a bad mood because everyone that has been passing him has been giving his position away by flashing thier lights and warning everyone.

And are you my brother because he thinks everyone thats not "like" him and his "way" that do things or think different then him are idiot white trailer trash red neck pos's and are stupid?

In addition, people do it in rural areas to warn you if there are deer or other large animals near the side of the road.

 

[Celstar]

if I find your car, you wont have any headlights to adjust.

and i'm almost barely joking.

 

[DurocShark]

HeeHee... I get that crap with my bus and my H4's. Just regular 55w H4's, but much MUCH better than the original sealed beam lights. They're adjusted correctly, but because the bus headlights are high up people think my brights are on. . . Until I actually hit my high beams. ::cue people swerving off the road, blinded::

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: murban135

Originally posted by: Mill
This has to stop. It doesn't happen every night, but it happens enough to be annoying. Some moron in a POS shitbox will flash their lights as I pass them because they think I have my brights on. Nope. Just HIDs. My lights are LESS likely to blind someone because they auto-balance and aim even when going around a curve or taking a turn. Flashing your lights at me because you are an idiot redneck is getting old. Now, please die.

Is this really so hard? Quickly flash your high beams to show the oncoming car you are not using them. It always gets the message across to the other driver.

FTW.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: dullard
Your lights ARE blinding them. Thus they ARE flashing you. Then you deny they are being blinded. There is a moron present in that transaction, but I'm not saying which one is the moron.

*yawn*

For all you idiots, the NHTSA says:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/glare.html

Although the agency has seen advertising and received many complaints claiming that the light produced by HIDs is twice or three times as bright as that which is produced by halogen lamps, laboratory measurement, made by various parties, do not support these claims.

Another factor that may be involved is the phenomenon that may have occurred with the introduction of halogen lamps in the early 1980's. Drivers are attracted to headlamps that are different colors than would normally be seen. As such, the drivers may look directly at oncoming headlamps during driving to see the unfamiliar item. This is something that they do not normally do. Initial halogen headlamp introduction elicited some glare complaints, even though the first halogens used were actually very similar in performance to the standard non-halogens headlamps. The only marked difference was the color of the halogen headlamps.

From USAToday:

Despite complaints from oncoming drivers, the glare from HID lights doesn't seem to cause accidents, hard as that might be to swallow. NHTSA knows of no injuries or deaths caused by HID glare. And University of Michigan studies of HID glare found that, while it annoys oncoming drivers, it doesn't disable them.

In a recent study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (Flannagan, M. J.; 1999, ASubjective and Objective Aspects of Headlamp Glare: Effects of Size and Spectral Power Distribution," Report No. UMTRI-99-36, available in Docket Number: NHTSA-2001-8885-3) the differences reported between halogen versus HID lamps caused a small but statistically significant difference in discomfort glare noted by observers. However, it had no effect on disability glare. It is not known yet whether it is the difference in spectral power density of these headlamps, but this difference in the human eye's glare response to these different lamp designs is shown in that study.

In other words, MUCH of what people *think* about HIDs is simply crap they think up in their head. There's little doubt that badly aimed headlights can blind someone. There's little doubt that HIDs do provide a different look than other headlights. My problem is that people LOOK at the lights and then flash me. Or, they notice something different and flash you.

It isn't as if I get flashed constantly. I mentioned it wasn't every night, but enough to get old. I have a hard time putting blame on myself when 99.9% of drivers don't flash when my beams are on regular. On the handful of times I've accidentally left my high beams on I get flashed by everyone. So, I can easily say that it is a very small amount of people that are seeing glare. I, myself, have ridden in a vehicle in front of mine and noticed no discernible bad effects. If anything, when going up/down a hill the lights point down into the ground instead of through the back glass and reflecting off the rearview mirror.

My lights are stock from the factory in Europe. When I picked up the car with one mile on it they are the lights I had. I never got flashed while driving in Europe. The car has not been involved in a single accident, and I just had a recent service (1500 miles ago), that includes them checking the beam and leveling system of the headlight. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my lights, there are just people that are maladjusted that freak out when anything looks different.

I pass several Sheriff officers everyday on the way home. If they thought I kept my highbeams on they WOULD pull me over or flash me. They never have. I've gotten in line behind them before, and if my lights were blinding them from behind -- again -- they'd pull me over.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: Mill
This has to stop. It doesn't happen every night, but it happens enough to be annoying. Some moron in a POS shitbox will flash their lights as I pass them because they think I have my brights on. Nope. Just HIDs. My lights are LESS likely to blind someone because they auto-balance and aim even when going around a curve or taking a turn. Flashing your lights at me because you are an idiot redneck is getting old. Now, please die.

Are your HIDs stock or did you put them in yourself? If you put them in yourself, were you sure to level them?

They came with the car when I picked it up brand new from the factory.

 

[ohtwell]

Well, as I am not a redneck and do not drive a POS, I can flash you if I think you have your highbeams on!


: ) Amanda

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Well, as I am not a redneck and do not drive a POS, I can flash you if I think you have your highbeams on!


: ) Amanda

OMG, an ohtwell sighting.

 

[soydios]

Maybe you should take your car into the shop and get the headlights adjusted. Just because they are autoleveling doesn't mean they're calibrated correctly. They could be autoleveling so that your low-beams blind other drivers.

Helpful tip.

 

[Pantoot]

I think your quotes provide the answers:

the differences reported between halogen versus HID lamps caused a small but statistically significant difference in discomfort

University of Michigan studies of HID glare found that, while it annoys oncoming drivers...

Maybe they are just flashing because your lights are annoying to them?

 

[randay]

Obviously you are not the only person on the road with a mercedes or hids. Check your fvckin lights.

 

[Cattlegod]

dude, you are getting mega owned in this thread.

i noimate this for the ownage of the year thread.

 

[mattocs]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: mattocs
If someone is being blinded by foglamps, you really need to get them adjusted. They should be lighting the area just in front of your vehicle...no pointing up into the eyes of other drivers.

And I agree with the HID crap. Maybe they are not so great, and you need to get them fixed.

I never said a word about foglights. Neither you or daniel can read. My lights work perfectly fine. I've driven a vehicle in front of my own car many times, and if anything they create less glare than normal lights.

I am sorry, I was talking to daniel about his foglamp problem.

 

[Q]

*cough*bragging on expensive car*cough*

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: Mill
I never said a word about foglights. Neither you or daniel can read. My lights work perfectly fine. I've driven a vehicle in front of my own car many times, and if anything they create less glare than normal lights.

Glare isn't what blinds people. Contrast blinds people. If your lights are high intensity and you're driving in the dark, the contrast (which is calculated as the difference between maximum and minimum intensities divided by the sum of the same) is very high indeed. As a result, the pupil will want to contract, making them unable to see dark areas. Since these dark areas include the road, surroundings, and everything but your headlights, they are effectively blinded. High intensity headlights suck unless the person using them knows how to aim their headlights properly. You obviously don't.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
dude, you are getting mega owned in this thread.

i noimate this for the ownage of the year thread.

seconded
especially for being a bombastic, pretentious douche.

 

[Baked]

HID cars are driven by aholes.