Auto-dimming Headlights on Newer Cars

[Scott Adams]

When riding at night and meeting a car going the other way, it's nice if the driver dims their lights for you.

In the last year of so, I'm noticing more cars that don't dim when approaching me.

To make it worse, these tend to be the newer high-end cars with searchlights for headlights.

I've driven a new Toyota Highlander with auto-dimming but haven't met a bike yet.

Does anyone else think that this trend of not dimming is related to auto-dimming on newer cars?

 

[Tars Tarkas]

I think it's a matter of people not caring about making things easier/better for other people on the road. Aside from not dimming headlights they replace the OEM headlights with after-market lamps that belong in a lighthouse. They want to see better and don't care what that means to others. So their low beams are brighter than high beams ought to be. Plus, they have fog lights that are equally bright.

I've heard that there are regulations in Europe about how bright headlights can be and how high they can be aimed. I think it's bast time for that in the US.

More or less the same deal with turn signals. I know where I'm going -- why does anyone else need to know?

TT

 

[AHicks]

Just a guess, but I'm thinking that for oncoming traffic equipped with auto dimming headlights, those cars are going to need an awful lot of light for that feature to work. Way more than what most bikes are going to have available.

 

[E-Wheels]

I've heard that there are regulations in Europe about how bright headlights can be and how high they can be aimed. I think it's bast time for that in the US

The standard is StVZO http://www.light-test.info/en/faq-en/169-stvzo-bike-lamps-regulations
Most bikes sold in the EU which have lights comply with this standard
StVZO lights make a pleasant experience for oncoming traffic and also for the user, giving a sharp, crisp and directed light pattern. A win-win for everyone

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Does anyone else think that this trend of not dimming is related to auto-dimming on newer cars?

No, I don't.

Most of the people I see who always run with their brights on have never owned a late-model car.

 

[vincent]

My new Subaru has auto dimming and it seems like it’s pretty sensitive, almost too sensitive to me but I have not paid attention to how it reacts to bicycles, I’ll try to keep an eye out And post back