Instead of hitting on HIDs, why don't they do something meaningful - like limiting the height that headlights can be mounted, from the ground. There's nothing more annoying to me than having some high rise truck or SUV sitting on my tail with 4 headlights blazing in my rear mirror.

 

For the umptiemth billionth time, the auto leveling is not 'active'. It takes 8 minutes before it adjusts. It in no way addresses our problem.

And the problem with our HID's is not their brightness,colour or angle, but the fact that when our car hits a rough patch in the road the car bobs up and down and the light flashes in the mirrors of the car in front.

Ever wondered why emergency vehicles have flashing lights? It's because it draws our attention. It's a reflex reaction to be drawn to movement. Well an S2000 with HID's driving over anything but the smoothest road also has this effect.

I am constantly amazed at other S2000 drivers reactions. "I like'em". Big deal! It's fairly evident that other motorists don't. If you are happy antagonising other motorists then fine. But don't come a crying online when someone carves "Fix your freaking lights" into your duco.

The reason bodies like the NHTSA have to legislate on issues like this is because of the owners out there that don't give a crap about their fellow motorists.

 

This is an interesting thread. I had a police car stop me for "failing to dip" my high beams. I said that I did'nt have my beams on. I told him to go out in front of my car and check to see if the high beams were on while his partner sat by my side. The officer said that my high beams were on, so I looked up at the officer by my car and said that they were off. He checked and confirmed that they were indeed off. I flahsed on the high beams and the officer in front about fell on the ground. The officer beside me started to laugh. I told him that the beams were "HID" beams (and very good lights) and the fact that the car "rides" the road giving the effect that the I was flashing the lights. He agreed with me. He then proceeded to ask me all about the car and how he was thinking of getting one. I told him that the performance was not that much better than a Mazada Miatta. Don't think he fell for it... He just gave me this smile that was like "yeah right". I think he had researched the vehicle well. I am now thinking of lowering the lights just a bit.

 

I'm annoyed by people with booming bass and trucks with headlights that shine right in my rear view mirrors. Do I go whining the NHTSA "whaaa, loud bass make sound I no like...make it stop" No! Do I go around flipping people off? No. Do I think its likely I'd scrawl the words "turn your bass down" into their vehicle? No. Do I expect to be the victim of vandalism if I drive a tall truck or put in loud bass speakers? No. So why are HID's any different?

Bottom line is that there is no damage done. Its annoying, but no more so that 4WD trucks with halogen bulbs beaming directly in my line of site or a semi tractor-trailer passing me in the rain and making it impossible for me to see for 30 seconds or more in his cloud of precipitate. (now thats a serious cause of accidents...why doesn't the NHTSA investigate that and require they use closed wheel wells to reduce the effect? ) Or how about when some POS car is blowing out exhaust that literally chokes me or creates a cloud of smoke? Ever smell the brakes of a truck or the exhaust of a diesel truck? That goes into my lungs and causes permanent damage. How dare we have lights that irritate someone...well I declare!

These are all real problems- with the exception of HID lights. There is no safety issue with HID beams unless they are adjusted too high and constantly shine into someones eyes. If they occasionally flash due to the rigidity of the car then its regrettable, but not maliscious or in any way dangerous to the other drivers. It in no way imitates the regularly flashing red and blue strobe lights of emergency vehicles and to say it even remotely resembles them is just silly. One is similar to a flash cube of a camera and the other is a constant bluish-white light. It does appear as though you are flashing a bright headlight...but its still better than the steady intense beam of a truck with halgogen bulbs at eye level. People are simply angered because they think you are flashing them and their road rage adrenaline cranks up....once more cars have these lights it will no longer be an issue since the irregularity will have worn off.

Anyway, that said, I'd probably consider replacing them if Honda provides the replacements at no cost and I retain the original bulbs for the day the law is overturned, and it would be. But if it happens I think I'll lead the charge of complaints about Loud Booming Stereos, halogen bulbs on trucks over 3 feet high, and the horrible exhaust fumes coming from other NON-LEV vehicles and commercial diesel trucks.

On another note, aren't these lights already DOT approved? Unless that approval process is just paperwork, the NHTSA should have a very short investigation ahead of them.

Your tax dollars at work...

-B

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AusS2000
[B]For the umptiemth billionth time, the auto leveling is not 'active'. It takes 8 minutes before it adjusts. It in no way addresses our problem.

And the problem with our HID's is not their brightness,colour or angle, but the fact that when our car hits a rough patch in the road the car bobs up and down and the light flashes in the mirrors of the car in front.

Ever wondered why emergency vehicles have flashing lights? It's because it draws our attention. It's a reflex reaction to be drawn to movement.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AusS2000
[B]
And the problem with our HID's is not their brightness,colour or angle, but the fact that when our car hits a rough patch in the road the car bobs up and down and the light flashes in the mirrors of the car in front.

Ever wondered why emergency vehicles have flashing lights? It's because it draws our attention. It's a reflex reaction to be drawn to movement.

 

I have to agree and disagree with you, AusS2000.

I agree that most auto-levelling HIDs are not "active". However, I believe the new 911 Turbo's HIDs are "active" and adjust as the car dips up and down over bumps and during braking and acceleration.

I disagree that auto-levelling HIDs take 8 minutes to adjust. My brother has a Lexus GS400 with auto-levelling HIDs and you can literally see the lights rotate on an arc. They go through this diagnostic mode each time the car is started. They then settle to a position that is at the proper level.

Most auto-levelling systems are only intended to compensate for load (passenger and/or cargo). That's it (except for the 911 Turbo).

 

While you're at it, see what you can do about the Chevrolet Avalanche. I was behind one today, and it's an eyesore in its own right.

 

I guess I didn't make my point clearly enough. My post wasn't about HID vs. Halogens or S2000's vs. SUV's. It was about consideration.

If you find that you are getting negative reactions to your headlights (HID, halogen, candle and reflector) in your vehicle (S2000, Monster SUV, horse and buggy) you have two possible courses of action:
1) Flip the bird and expect future road rage.
2) Do sumpin about it.

There are enough accounts here to warrant us all looking into it. If you haven't had any negative reactions (and remember, only 1 in 10 actually complain, the other 9 just quietly plan their retribution ) then your headlights probably need adjusting up .

And my post wasn't suggesting the NHSTA do a Royal Commission. I was stating that because some people can't see outside of their selves for one second, bodies like the NHSTA are formed to do it for them. If you want to see the sort of post I'm talking about read Trick46's post in the other HID thread.

I have no desire to upset my fellow motorist. Just because we made the Road Warrior movies (well, the good ones at least) doesn't mean we want to live that way.