If you focus the light correctly they’re not bad.
The problem is folks put new LED bulbs in old fixtures designed for non-led bulbs. These scatter light everywhere and annoy people. Plus they have to be even brighter because the light isn’t focused where it needs to go.
It’s typically this and not the particular tech in the headlight. And when it’s not “plug n play” (pnp) bulbs, it’s bad aim because every factory aims them with an empty tank and owners are clueless headlights can be aimed. That A8 had pretty good lights for the time. Sure, the lights do tend to be more intense when you’re in the beam on a hill, curve, etc), and the bluer color isn’t great for human night vision, but that’s a tradeoff for the increased speeds we travel at now.
The further development of matrix LED lights by the Germans is a great development, really only feasible with LEDs. They turn off individual segments to give a near-high beam experience but specifically without blinding other drivers.
But blaming it all on LEDs is like blaming gas engines for loud exhaust. There’s supposed to be a system in place that makes it tolerable for everyone around.
Those smart Porsche headlights are so damn cool. I can’t wait until that tech trickles down to becoming a standard.
Also just cars being too high/big. My car gives no issues to others, but fuck me those bigger cars…
People having their lights aimed incorrectly is also a huge issue. Check your car against a wall. Most of them are slightly adjustable. Color temp is just manufacturing cheapness that could be regulated
I feel like there is no such thing as low beams anymore. Low beams used to be less bright, now they’re just as fucking bright and aimed SLIGHTLY down. God forbid the road isn’t exactly flat or you have a slightly different height vehicle.
I love my rear view mirror being able to auto dim, not sure if that feature is in most cars but it’s saved my eyes a number of times now.
I relate so hard. Honestly LED’s are nothing compared to the fucking laser headlights that now exist in Volvo models and others. Yes, you read that right, actual lasers.
I’ve been on the receiving end and actually had to pull over for a minute just to survive (ie not crash due to complete blindness from being flasbanged). Laser headlights should be illegal yesterday. The permanent damage from exposure again and again over time is going to cause long-term and slowly emerging vision problems theoughout the population. Seriously.
Its a lot of the lighting going up on buildings next to roadways that are starting to get under my skin. If you’re going to use a 300000000000 lumen LED, can you at least not point it directly at an oncoming lane of traffic? Thanks.
I’m also annoyed by PWM artifacts on taillights.
Yeah when one of those fuckers is driving behind me, I’ll just decelerate a mph every couple of seconds. Doesn’t usually take more than about 5 until they get annoyed enough to actually pass.
Its not the headlights, it’s fuckera messing with their car or bribing the inspector to not fail them on broken auto adjust systems, or (for a while) people putting shitty aliexpres lights in halogen projectors
It is the headlights, the UK has the MOT which is very harsh in testing and you cant just bribe your way through it (massive legal penalties for the garage performing the check). And if these lights are that bad while maladjusted then they’re still a issue, malajusted bulb headlights are just slightly annoying not totally blinding.
