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For some reason, I'm becoming more and more sensitive to bright lights at night. A few years ago, I would've said my night vision was pretty good. Now, it's mediocre. I'm finding that I notice poorly aimed headlights on the highway much more frequently than I remember. I don't know why.
There are a few different types of poorly aimed headlights:
1. The Lifted Truck
This one is just because the headlights are at rear-view mirror level or higher. It's not really possible for them to have functional headlights while still saving the eyes of whoever is in front of them. But, they probably don't care.
2. The Loaded Trunk (or Backseat)
You'll see the 1980's domestic sedans that seem to have their rear ends sagging dangerously low, either from a packed backseat, or dead hookers in the trunk. This forces the front of the car to be pointed skywards, casting a bright yellowing glow on anyone in front of them, like their cigarette-stained teeth. Fortunately, they're usually not going too fast either.
3. The Mad-Tyte Sport Compact
After they buy the muffler to let you hear them coming, they buy ridiculously bright and possibly illegal (at least not DOT approved) headlight bulbs. Then, as a "performance mod" they then aim their headlights to point more upwards, resulting in headaches and a craving to watch The Fast and the Furious. This can also be combined with other blinky, flashy lights, or even more ridiculously-aimed fog lights, spotlights, or flashlights duct-taped to the hood.
4. The Self-Important Guy in a European Luxury Car
This guy likes people to know what he drives. He has a vanity plate to prove that he is, in fact, driving "MYCAR" or "JONS MB" etc. Unfortunately, he also likes to know that "MYCAR" has supersecret features like rear fog lights. (in case you haven't seen one, a rear fog light is a superbright red light that is mandatory in Europe. It's usually just one, but sometimes cars have two.) This guy will turn on both his front fog lights, and rear fog lights, on on a perfectly clear night. I believe if you stare at one long enough, it's a cheap replacement for LASIK eye treatments. They're great in foggy weather, and just makes the self-important guy look more of a douche on clear nights. This can also be combined with 3 for the self-important guy in a mad-tyte European sport compact.
5. The Little Car that Could
This is the car driven because it works 85% of the time, has seats and a steering wheel, and little else functional. It's one that probably doesn't meet safety standards and is best used to hold the dirt down in scrapyards prone to heavy gusts of wind. The owner believes that a suitable replacement for a burnt out headlight is to use the high-beam for the other one. Or, to compensate for chipped or cracked headlight housings or super-dim bulbs.
Yes, I could use the little flippy switch to shade my rear view mirror, but I like to see what's behind me and it doesn't work for the wing mirrors.
TÜV in America, anyone?
There are a few different types of poorly aimed headlights:
1. The Lifted Truck
This one is just because the headlights are at rear-view mirror level or higher. It's not really possible for them to have functional headlights while still saving the eyes of whoever is in front of them. But, they probably don't care.
2. The Loaded Trunk (or Backseat)
You'll see the 1980's domestic sedans that seem to have their rear ends sagging dangerously low, either from a packed backseat, or dead hookers in the trunk. This forces the front of the car to be pointed skywards, casting a bright yellowing glow on anyone in front of them, like their cigarette-stained teeth. Fortunately, they're usually not going too fast either.
3. The Mad-Tyte Sport Compact
After they buy the muffler to let you hear them coming, they buy ridiculously bright and possibly illegal (at least not DOT approved) headlight bulbs. Then, as a "performance mod" they then aim their headlights to point more upwards, resulting in headaches and a craving to watch The Fast and the Furious. This can also be combined with other blinky, flashy lights, or even more ridiculously-aimed fog lights, spotlights, or flashlights duct-taped to the hood.
4. The Self-Important Guy in a European Luxury Car
This guy likes people to know what he drives. He has a vanity plate to prove that he is, in fact, driving "MYCAR" or "JONS MB" etc. Unfortunately, he also likes to know that "MYCAR" has supersecret features like rear fog lights. (in case you haven't seen one, a rear fog light is a superbright red light that is mandatory in Europe. It's usually just one, but sometimes cars have two.) This guy will turn on both his front fog lights, and rear fog lights, on on a perfectly clear night. I believe if you stare at one long enough, it's a cheap replacement for LASIK eye treatments. They're great in foggy weather, and just makes the self-important guy look more of a douche on clear nights. This can also be combined with 3 for the self-important guy in a mad-tyte European sport compact.
5. The Little Car that Could
This is the car driven because it works 85% of the time, has seats and a steering wheel, and little else functional. It's one that probably doesn't meet safety standards and is best used to hold the dirt down in scrapyards prone to heavy gusts of wind. The owner believes that a suitable replacement for a burnt out headlight is to use the high-beam for the other one. Or, to compensate for chipped or cracked headlight housings or super-dim bulbs.
Yes, I could use the little flippy switch to shade my rear view mirror, but I like to see what's behind me and it doesn't work for the wing mirrors.
TÜV in America, anyone?