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At night, the contrast is easily noticeable. The brightness of headlights varies. Additionally, some drivers could find those brighter headlights more blinding.
The type of headlamp makes a difference, according to Alan Makabi, manager of digital marketing for Cedar Rapids Toyota. Higher-end, more costly cars typically include LED headlights, which are the brighter lights. Additionally, the popularity of such headlamps is rising.
You’ll see an increasing number of cars switching to LED lights. “The lights you’re seeing are when you’re driving down the road and you see opposing traffic coming and you see that kind of bluish look,” Makabi explained. The primary reasons for the increasing use of LED lights in this area recently are their longevity and visibility.
Two neighborhood residents noticed the disparity in headlamp brightness. They submitted their query to The Gazette’s “Curious Iowa” series, which provides readers with answers to frequently asked questions about the state and its operations.
Why do the colors and brightness of headlights vary between automobiles and trucks? The readers pondered. Who controls how bright the lights are?
To find the answers, The Gazette conducted research and consulted with local experts.
What are the different kinds of headlights seen on vehicles?
According to Makabi, headlights come in three primary varieties. Halogen bulbs, which resemble yellow-white headlights, are the most widely used.
High-intensity discharge (HID) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are the brighter blue-white lights that have become more popular. Although the color and brightness of LEDs and HIDs are comparable, LEDs are often more expensive and have a longer lifespan.
According to Makabi, the majority of conventional automobiles use halogen lights, but the more expensive versions will have LED or HID lights.
AAA, which has studied LED headlights and how they affect driving safety, claims that while the lights aren’t always brighter, the light that the bulbs create can be more glaring to the eye.
Adaptive driving beam headlights have been promoted by the association for many years. When approaching vehicles, people, or other objects are recognized, the technology, which has been in use for years in Europe and Canada, automatically modifies the headlights’ brightness. Although U.S. regulators approved the technology in 2022, it is now only seen in high-end automobiles.
Is headlight brightness regulated in Iowa?
Iowa’s code is a little less specific, merely stating that headlights should be directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal people and vehicles at a safe distance in front of the vehicle. This is in contrast to federal laws that specify the maximum and minimum luminosity allowed for headlights produced by vehicle manufacturers, meaning that any headlights that come with a vehicle sold at a dealership will already have been tested and approved to meet the requirements.
Additionally, the law mandates that cars must have two lights on the front and two on the back, while motorbikes must have one or two lights on the front and back. Additionally, the code permitted the use of red on the back and yellow, white, or amber on the front.
Additionally, according to Iowa law, lights must not be aimed so high that they are projected into the eyes of an incoming vehicle. The Iowa State Patrol’s public relations officer, Alex Dinkla, stated that this rule is frequently enforced during traffic stops.
When headlamps are misaligned, you can immediately see if they are aiming directly at you or, more often than not, you can see how the beam is facing the road or into the ditch, according to Dinkla.
Additional issues with the headlights Dinkla stated that failing headlights or taillights or having extra lights on a car could lead to a traffic stop.
Some people enjoy driving with auxiliary lights, such as a light bar, mounted on their car or grill. “That’s not something you can do,” Dinkla stated. Those are not designed for on-road use; they are for off-road use.
Some headlight features on newer cars, like as daytime running lights or a system that automatically switches on the front headlights while leaving the taillights off, might potentially be problematic if drivers aren’t aware of them. According to Dinkla, he frequently pulls over cars who have their headlights on but their taillights off, making it hard to see their vehicle from behind at night.
According to Dinkla, he frequently advises drivers to activate their lights in the event of inclement weather, such as fog, rain, or snow.
According to Dinkla, it will enable other vehicles to notice your car even though it might not always be something that is good for you, visibility, or visibility. Therefore, it serves as a helpful reminder that you can increase your safety by turning on your headlights in poor light or in bad weather.
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