Headlight beam design and standard/code

[faithnc]

Recently our trafic department announced to put black paint on top part of the headlights to reduce glare. I think this is an unscientific approach and may cause more accidents for improper beam and reduced light.

I need some info on standards/recommendations of headlight beam design and which s followed by most of the car manufacturrers and authorities.

[beeman]

I wouldn't touch that. Adjusting headlights properly will do the same thing, and won't reduce your visibility. I'll depict what my Haynes maintenance manual for my truck says about adjusting headlights, which I belive is standard on all vehicels.

1) Position your vehicle on level ground, 25 away from a blank wall. It should not have an unusually heavy load, and the gas tank should be half full, so that the suspension is at the same height it normally sits at.
2) Position tape on the wall so that it is the same height of your vehicles headlights, and the same distance out from the center of your vehicle as your headlights are.
3) Position the high intensity zone of the headlights on low beam 2 inches below the tape line, and 2 inches to the right of the tape line, so it does not shine into oncoming traffic.
4) The high beam position should be slightly below the tape line, directly forward. A compromise may be needed, but it is more important to have your low beams set so you can see, and don't blind other drivers. These have the most effect on driver safety.
5) It is recommended to have a qualified technician adjust the headlights at the soonest opportunity. Your headlights should be adjusted every twelve months.

I'm still a fan of the old fashioned sealed beam headlights, but properly adjusted, all headlights should be safe and glare should not be an issue. That is scary that your traffic department would even consider this. I'm not sure about the exact standards for beam design, but this adjustment approach should be close to what the standards are. Keep the paint brush away!

[southpawboston]

Recently our trafic department announced to put black paint on top part of the headlights to reduce glare. I think this is an unscientific approach and may cause more accidents for improper beam and reduced light.

I need some info on standards/recommendations of headlight beam design and which s followed by most of the car manufacturrers and authorities.

agreed!

try searching around the DOT websites... the standards for US automotive lighting systems are developed and regulated by the US DOT.

[Patriot201]

Yikes! That sounds like some scary advice!!

[southpawboston]

here are a couple of links i found doing a quick google search. i'm a bit interested in this as well, not for myself so much, but to try to dispell the myth that some car "modders" believe about those stupid aftermarket high-intensity discharge (HID) lights that give off that blue hue. i see these all the time on studded up cars (mostly driven by teenage and early 20s men) and a lot of the regulars on the car forums i post on are into them, but IMHO they don't help you see at night, they just cause unnecessary glare to oncoming traffic.

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsa5001.htm

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-01/GlareSpectrum/pages/tech_page.htm

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/rulings/glare.html

the last link seems the most comprehensive and informative!

hope this helps!