Before upgrading your headlights....
Before upgrading your headlights....
Third paragraph is the most relevant, but the whole artical is interesting:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/commu...162582986.html
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/commu...162582986.html
The article says nothing new about circadian rhythm and light pollution, but does make interesting points about aging and streetlights.
Unfortunately, the author seems to mistake HID (xenon) for LED lights. I ruled out xenons in my two MINIs because of my experience with other drivers. I drive in an urban area, and relatively rarely at night. When a pair of HIDs come up behind me at night, I become very uncomfortable, and have trouble changing lanes to let car get around me because the effects seem to affect my peripheral vision.
But I'm sure I'd feel differently if I were the one with the HIDs and driving on a remote rural road.
Unfortunately, the author seems to mistake HID (xenon) for LED lights. I ruled out xenons in my two MINIs because of my experience with other drivers. I drive in an urban area, and relatively rarely at night. When a pair of HIDs come up behind me at night, I become very uncomfortable, and have trouble changing lanes to let car get around me because the effects seem to affect my peripheral vision.
But I'm sure I'd feel differently if I were the one with the HIDs and driving on a remote rural road.
A good, well designed HID lighting system is no worse than halogens and often much better because of the sharp cut off of the uppper part of the beam. As such, they shouldn't be much of a problem to most people and I consider them to be superior to halogen systems.
However, if one is talking about one of those "upgrade/retrofit" kits that puts an HID bulb in a housing designed for halogen, those are all crap. Period. They put out too much light in the wrong areas and wrong directions and cause all kinds of problems for oncoming drivers. And I'd bet that's what the writer of that aricle is seeing. Legit HID systems (i.e., those that come equiped from the factor with HID) rarely look that blue. Those that are noticably blue are illegal kits installed in halogen housings, or crappy halogen bulbs pretending to be HID.
The HID low beams in my 06 are great.
However, if one is talking about one of those "upgrade/retrofit" kits that puts an HID bulb in a housing designed for halogen, those are all crap. Period. They put out too much light in the wrong areas and wrong directions and cause all kinds of problems for oncoming drivers. And I'd bet that's what the writer of that aricle is seeing. Legit HID systems (i.e., those that come equiped from the factor with HID) rarely look that blue. Those that are noticably blue are illegal kits installed in halogen housings, or crappy halogen bulbs pretending to be HID.
The HID low beams in my 06 are great.
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