In the latest media distraction thread, to steer the public away from the Pakistani Rape gang issue, is the issue of headlamps that are too bright.
Whilst we all have had problems with dazzling white headlamps, the law already caters for the illegally fitted bulbs that are not designed for the headlamps they are fitted to.
The MOT test is supposed to pick up illegal LED and HID headlamp bulbs being fitted into Halogen headlamps. The reason being, the wrong headlamp bulbs will not put the light source in the correct position and the beam pattern will be wrong. In most cases making a broader beam to dazzle oncoming drivers.
However, even the legal LED, HID and Laser headlamps have their issues: they rely on a level sensor, usually fitted to the rear of the vehicle that senses the position of the rear axle and therefore the squat of the vehicle. It should then move the headlamp aim down automatically if the nose of the car aims up.
But, most systems are too slow, or they fail over time. I think I've only ever driven one car where the headlamp beam stayed stable as the car went over bumps. The system was responsive and quick enough to move the headlamps in real time to keep the beam at the same height. Most systems can't react quickly enough even though they may pass regulations. The regulations just test the ability of the system to (eventually) level the headlamps, I assume not the speed of the system in real-time.
Therefore in the car goes over bumps, you can see the headlamp beam rise and fall with bumps in the road, rather than saying level.
The other thing is, this is another level of complication that fails over time. The level sensor may stop registering the height of the rear of the car internally, or the linkage to the suspension may actually break.
These are things that I assume are not tested at MOT time, or if they are, the vehicle can be driving for weeks or months with headlamps that don't automatically height-adjust.
But really, have the media not got bigger fish to fry? I mean there's legislation in the MOT test to deal with illegal installations, I assume that faulty height adjusters are dealt with at MOT time. There's not much else that can be done except go back to dim orange headlamps.
It's a distraction. One that yes, appeals to most people out there, but there are no quick solutions. Lighting technology has moved on.
Unless the media is whipping up a fake storm with which to beat drivers again. could they for instance bring in new legislation to fine drivers that dazzle? Another tax on the motorist cash-cow?
Or is it just a distraction from Rape gangs? You decide.
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