Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by jdietrich on Monday August 03, 2020 @11:49PM
(#24046370)
Most of the European Audi and BMW range is equipped with adaptive LED or laser headlights that selectively dip for oncoming traffic; self-levelling headlights are mandatory on new cars in the EU.
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Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by TomMarius on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @01:11AM
(#24046853)
Not just "new cars" - a 2001 car that I drove had xeons with the leveling already mandatory. And it's checked at the bi-yearly technical inspection, and the police can forbid you to drive the car further if it's not working and they catch you (not sure if all around EU, definitely in Czechia and Germany).
Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by usrusr on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @03:12AM
(#24047497)
And with all that fancy auto-leveling and auto-dipping they have snuck in a massive increase in practical brightness levels which is extremely blinding to those for whom the systems don't auto-dip.
Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by TomMarius on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @03:44AM
(#24047648)
The worst are trucks (like mass cargo, not Ford F), they have the headlights placed way too high and usually drive with high beam always on.
Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by richthegeek on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @05:44AM
(#24048290)
From experience in Cyprus, they don't care even a little bit over there.
Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by muro on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @06:29AM
(#24048528)
Xenon, not Xeon :)
Pretty much all the EU; although the 1st three years after new car purchase there is no technical inspection.
Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by kube-system on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @01:08AM
(#24046843)
Nobody tows with an Audi or BMW in the US. People here tow with an F150, which is equipped with an incandescent bulb in front of a chrome-plated plastic reflector.
Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by throwaway0a5e on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @07:15AM
(#24048780)
People tow small boats and jet skis with their cars. HN just never crosses paths with those people because they're both above and below the income range around here.
Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by kube-system on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @08:50AM
(#24049390)
Yes, I’ve seen it. Comparatively very few people in the US tow with cars compared to the rest of the world. For two reasons:
1. Pickups are comparatively very popular in the US.
2. The US has more stringent regulations for towing than the rest of the world; a vehicle rated to tow 2000lbs in EU often is rated to tow nothing at all in the US. [0]
Re:Why is America stuck with bad headlights?
by thomaslord on Tuesday August 04, 2020 @01:29PM
(#24052355)
In my experience it's more like a lifted GMC Yukon XL that came with incandescent bulbs but has had them swapped out for something 10x brighter and angled perfectly to hit the rear view mirror in any car less than 50 ft off the ground. God, I hate SUVs.