headlights on new cars to bright or is it me?

Mr.Mark wrote:

RayJayco wrote:

jerseyjim wrote:
RayJayco: I might be wrong, but I seem to remember someone taking "flash your headlights" to court, and the court found flashing headlights came under "freedom of speech."

just thinkin'.....

Hey Jersey, you may be right as that is why I said that I wasn't sure if it is still a law, however I do know people that were ticketed some years ago.

In reality, it is dangerous.
Be safe!

I just drove from CA to TN in the motorhome. I've flashed truckers in every state between here and there. Some truckers will give me a flash signaling that it is ok to move back into the right lane after I pass them.

Many times, a trucker will flash his/her courtesy lights in appreciation for the headlight flash but some don't.

I've always wondered which states frown upon it but haven't investigated. I know in one instance that a trooper did see me flash a trucker to move over. I did check my mirrors to see if he was going to follow me but didn't (can't remember which state I was in).

I don't normally drive the motorhome at night so this is just a daytime event.

Safe travels,
MM.

MM,
I don't think the troopers have as much an issue of you flashing a truck indicating it's safe to get back into the lane as flashing oncoming cars to warn of a radar trap.

RayJayco wrote:

jerseyjim wrote:
RayJayco: I might be wrong, but I seem to remember someone taking "flash your headlights" to court, and the court found flashing headlights came under "freedom of speech."

just thinkin'.....

Hey Jersey, you may be right as that is why I said that I wasn't sure if it is still a law, however I do know people that were ticketed some years ago.

In reality, it is dangerous.
Be safe!

I just drove from CA to TN in the motorhome. I've flashed truckers in every state between here and there. Some truckers will give me a flash signaling that it is ok to move back into the right lane after I pass them.

Many times, a trucker will flash his/her courtesy lights in appreciation for the headlight flash but some don't.

I've always wondered which states frown upon it but haven't investigated. I know in one instance that a trooper did see me flash a trucker to move over. I did check my mirrors to see if he was going to follow me but didn't (can't remember which state I was in).

I don't normally drive the motorhome at night so this is just a daytime event.

Safe travels,
MM.

jerseyjim wrote:
RayJayco: I might be wrong, but I seem to remember someone taking "flash your headlights" to court, and the court found flashing headlights came under "freedom of speech."

just thinkin'.....

Hey Jersey, you may be right as that is why I said that I wasn't sure if it is still a law, however I do know people that were ticketed some years ago.

In reality, it is dangerous.
Be safe!

RayJayco: I might be wrong, but I seem to remember someone taking "flash your headlights" to court, and the court found flashing headlights came under "freedom of speech."

just thinkin'.....

Just as a note, it is illegal in some states to flash your lights.

Not sure if it still is here in FL, however I know of some people that actually received tickets for it some years ago. Years ago, that was a way to alert oncoming drivers that police were up ahead.
Maybe it was like tooting your horn to pass, a thing of the past...

One of our utility trailers had polished (new & shiny) diamond plate on the rear gate (about 4'w & 1.5'tall) and was pulled over due to it reflecting light back on the car (police) that was following...

Motor safely!

1320Fastback wrote:
It's a big problem with new cars with stock headlight as well as older car with upgraded bulbs in factory housings which are the worst.

All get flashed by me and if your behind me my 4x6 KC backup light as well as a super insanely bright CREE bed/cab light might just turn on until you pass or turn away becuase I know you cant dim.

Another good defense is keeping your rear bumper highly polished;)

When someone with high beams rides my arse, I adjust my outside mirror right back at them. They get the hint real fast and usually pass me if it's a multi lane road.

The way that the new headlights are designed, if a car goes into a dip, it looks like they are flashing at you when they are not. The lights are SO directional causing this but I'm getting use to it.

My Land Rover has the headlights that turn with the steering wheel (just like a '48 Tucker ;) ). That's a really neat feature.

MM.

It's a big problem with new cars with stock headlight as well as older car with upgraded bulbs in factory housings which are the worst.

All get flashed by me and if your behind me my 4x6 KC backup light as well as a super insanely bright CREE bed/cab light might just turn on until you pass or turn away becuase I know you cant dim.

Another good defense is keeping your rear bumper highly polished;)

I have had problems with this since I started driving. My eyes are very sensitive to bright light eye DR says it is because I don't have much color in my eyes to filter the light.
When I drive if some one comes up behind me with to bright of lights I just slow down till they pass me. I get passed a lot. A couple months ago I was driving my Dodge Neon when a Ford F150 pulled up behind me with very bright lights so I just kept going slower so he would pass. I thought He was just being a jerk he stayed behind me even after I turned. I was going 20 in a 45. Then after about a half mile I seen the blue lights come on. It was a cop he pulled me over to "make sure I was okay" I told him I just wanted him to pass because he was blinding the blank out me. After checking me out he said he never noticed his lights were a problem.

DrewE wrote:

Mr.Mark wrote:

I, too, will flash people with 'over-bright' headlights. I feel they need to know that they are blinding oncoming traffic. If someone has their brights on, I will flash my brights and if they don't turn them off, I leave mine on too. Many times, they will turn theirs off.

It has always seemed counter-productive to me to leave one's brights on when an oncoming car fails to dim theirs. The last thing I want when I have trouble seeing the road and another car is approaching is for them to also not be able to see anything. In the off chance that it's not their brights but a very misadjusted light or an (illegal) aftermarket light or something, there's no way they'd be able to correct the problem in the several seconds before we pass each other.

It seems to me that a quick flash or two is all that would be advisable, and if that doesn't work, grumble and get on with life...or even just carry on without grumbling.

I know, but I'm Italian and a Taurus, bad combo. :R

MM.