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[STEMO]

Jason....is there some kind of legal limit for just how bright headlights can be?
Some tit in a 57 golf was behind me last night and I had to move my rear view mirror because his lights were so bright...almost pure white. We were driving in a 40 limit and I was so annoyed with the tw*t that I slowed to 25 to deliberately hold him up. He got past me and came up behind a BMW, who did exactly the same as me, until he was overtaken as well.
You'd think that this moron would realise that he's gonna get nowhere fast as people keep slowing right down till he's past.
We both caught him up at the next set of lights about two miles down the road, about three cars in front of us, so I guess he'd made slow progress by having to overtake others after us.

[TheBoy]

Was it pure brightness, or had the 'tard adjusted the aim?

[STEMO]

Was it pure brightness, or had the 'tard adjusted the aim?

It was just pure, white light, there was no 'beam', just a floodlight effect in front of the car.

[Crazycarzowner]

http://greyhead.co.uk/are-aftermarket-hid-lights-legal-in-the-uk#h.qkmw8m50o3gc

Gives a comprehensive write up.

[STEMO]

http://greyhead.co.uk/are-aftermarket-hid-lights-legal-in-the-uk#h.qkmw8m50o3gc

Gives a comprehensive write up.

A comprehensive load of bollicks, then. It's not illegal to dazzle someone because we have no way of stopping them doing it.

[Crazycarzowner]

You ain't read the whole article, if the Golf had 'aftermarket' lights fitted then

Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the aftermarket should:
 
be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component;
when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place); and
comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.

Most sold from the bayofE are not and it is illegal to sell / fit them.

[STEMO]

You ain't read the whole article, if the Golf had 'aftermarket' lights fitted then

Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the aftermarket should:
 
be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component;
when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place); and
comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.

Most sold from the bayofE are not and it is illegal to sell / fit them.

Although no government inspection will take place........so........what? Illegal but nothing to be done?

[Crazycarzowner]

Well you asked the question, I just merely gave the answer. Not my fault the DFT makes these rules, it should be part of the MOT test but they ain't allowed to pull cars to pieces to look for the 'E' mark.

Same with any part of a car, if it don't have the 'E' mark or equivalent it shouldn't be sold / put on a vehicle, but there's millions of bits out there that are.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Was it pure brightness, or had the 'tard adjusted the aim?

It was just pure, white light, there was no 'beam', just a floodlight effect in front of the car.

Sounds like a low flying UFO to me. Do you have any strange marks on your body left by the alien probe ?

[STEMO]

Was it pure brightness, or had the 'tard adjusted the aim?

It was just pure, white light, there was no 'beam', just a floodlight effect in front of the car.

Sounds like a low flying UFO to me. Do you have any strange marks on your body left by the alien probe ?

Bit of a sore bottie.....but that wasn't an alien.

[steve6367]

http://greyhead.co.uk/are-aftermarket-hid-lights-legal-in-the-uk#h.qkmw8m50o3gc

Gives a comprehensive write up.

Problem is its not just after market - a lot of new premium brand cars seem to have stupidly bright lights with a very very hard edge which produces a flashing effect over bumps. I personally think the law has been completely left behind by changing lighting technology.

[YZ250]

Cars can sit behind me on full beam for all I care as the mirrors just get darker. What is annoying is modern headlights, my own included, are overly bright coming towards you. From behind the wheel the German has superb headlights but I sympathise with drivers coming towards me as they are very intense.

[Jimbob]

Must admit ive been considering one of the supposedly better hid kits as getting fed up changing bulbs every 12 months i like the 'better' ones as my commute is pitch black country lanes...

something like http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/H7-HIDS4U-Stealth-35W-Xenon-HID-Conversion-Kit.html which appear legal enough and E marked.

[Kevin Wood]

Modern HID lights need a very good, reliably levelling system to keep the cutoff level below your eyes and mirrors. VAG can't make a very good, reliable system of any description.

Even then, if fitted to a "drug dealer" Chelsea tractor, the cutoff will be too high if you're driving something more sporting.

It's daft, really, because dipped beam only really needs to light the road immediately in front of you. I have no idea why the trend to make them ever brighter.

[aaronjb]

All cars should be fitted with these:



(Anyone of a certain age should remember how far you weren't able to see with them.. )