Headlights have become way too bright

[fdeck]

That's quite surprising to hear. We are nothing if not steeped, often overly so, in regulation.
I wonder if OSHA has anything on this? I would expect them to weigh in on this more so than FEMA.
FEMA handles the S41T after it hits the fan. OSHA tries to prevent the S41T from happening.

Well, there are regulatory limits on the emission of light, due to safety issues ranging from skin exposure to retinal damage. I'm not an engineer, but I've read the standards, and there appears to a lot of science that goes into the limits, which vary from one wavelength to another. Blue light is apparently a particular area of concern for retinal damage.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I suspect there's something we don't understand about the perception of light. The measurements and standards are based on assumptions about perception. I experience a similar thing when bicycling -- some headlights on bikes are blinding. I've actually modified my light to direct less glare to oncoming cyclists.

Some of the perception is related to color temperature of the various lights and the eye's sensitivity to different wavelengths.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Ban blue LEDs on amps and pedals!

 

[Groove Doctor]

I've read the standards, and there appears to a lot of science that goes into the limits, which vary from one wavelength to another. Blue light is apparently a particular area of concern for retinal damage.

Some of the perception is related to color temperature of the various lights and the eye's sensitivity to different wavelengths.

Exactly. These "brighter" lights are closer to the blue end of spectrum and produce much more glare.
Link Removed

Solution.....???

Not technically sunglasses but...
I drive a lot at night, and for years have worn prescription glasses with some sort of glare-reducing coating, which helps greatly.

I tried my ski goggles (orange tint) while driving and there was a massive reduction in glare. My buddy laughed at me until he tried them, then flipped out in disbelief.

 

[tlc1976]

I tried my ski goggles (orange tint) while driving and there was a massive reduction in glare. My buddy laughed at me until he tried them, then flipped out in disbelief.

Which explains why those HD night vision glasses (as-seen-on-TV that you can sometimes find in the dollar store now) are nothing more than yellow lenses. My dad said they were just shooting glasses, same thing.

I didn't find them to reduce glare at night. What I found them most useful for is sunlight therapy. We sometimes have weeks on end that you never see the sun. The glasses turn a dead looking gray day into what looks like a lively looking sunny one.

Aside from headlights, what bothers me most at night are these new LED billboards. (Well maybe not new for Times Square, but new for here.) They are blinding. Seriously, the technology exists to turn down the brightness when it's dark out. Why they don't utilize it is beyond me.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Which explains why those HD night vision glasses (as-seen-on-TV that you can sometimes find in the dollar store now) are nothing more than yellow lenses. My dad said they were just shooting glasses, same thing.

I didn't find them to reduce glare at night. What I found them most useful for is sunlight therapy. We sometimes have weeks on end that you never see the sun. The glasses turn a dead looking gray day into what looks like a lively looking sunny one.

Aside from headlights, what bothers me most at night are these new LED billboards. (Well maybe not new for Times Square, but new for here.) They are blinding. Seriously, the technology exists to turn down the brightness when it's dark out. Why they don't utilize it is beyond me.

It's advertising. Their job is to grab your attention.

 

[FingerDub]

It's advertising. Their job is to grab your attention.

The end justifies the means? This is terrible logic.

This reminds me when TV advertisers were told to get their recording volume more inline with regular TV. You watch a show, and then all of a sudden, the volume spikes to annoyingly high levels when commercials come on.

Might I remind you a billboard at night full of lights is still easily visible and attention grabbing at lower brightness?

If I am a business, am I allowed to blast my stereo to grab attention? Why not?

 

[guy n. cognito]

The end justifies the means? This is terrible logic

No...but it explains it pretty well.

 

[fdeck]

The end justifies the means? This is terrible logic.

This reminds me when TV advertisers were told to get their recording volume more inline with regular TV. You watch a show, and then all of a sudden, the volume spikes to annoyingly high levels when commercials come on.

Might I remind you a billboard at night full of lights is still easily visible and attention grabbing at lower brightness?

If I am a business, am I allowed to blast my stereo to grab attention? Why not?

This is the classic "tragedy of the commons."

 

[Downunderwonder]

This is the classic "tragedy of the commons."

Now you're blaming Shakespeare?

 

[kartiste]

Now you're blaming Shakespeare?

No, Aeschylus.

 

[kartiste]

No, Aeschylus.

or maybe Simon de Montfort.