LED lights are too bright!

[NY65912]

I don't know about you guys, but the LED lights on emergency vehicles, and other signage are just too damn bright at night. Even the brake lights on cars are too bright.

I have to look away from them not to feel like my retinas will burn up.

Can the LED lighting be throttled down to be less harsh?

Is it just me??

[livi]

I totally agree. Particularly when driving old cars myself with barely lighting to see five meters ahead. At night, certainly when its raining too, I drive with my Eyes focused on the White line to the right of the road. Very annoying.

[widgeon13]

They are very bright. (and people still don't get out of the way)

[Holger]

Agree!
I always tilt my rear view mirror when I have those LED-position lights or (even worse!) those new LED-main lights behind me. The break lights dont disturb me as much, because the red light is not as bright as the white one.

[Baz]

I was just thinking about this last night on my way home from my last job. Wasn't sure if it was just my eyes but this thread confirms it's the new LED lights.

Too bright....may have to wear my Oakleys!

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by Baz

Too bright....may have to wear my Oakleys!

Who do you think you are? Corey Hart??

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I've wondered about this too. Supposedly the purpose of extra lights, colored "emergency" lights, etc. is to increase safety by ensuring that approaching drivers see the emergency vehicles but the trend is that they're COMPLETELY overdone. There are so many bright, blingy, flashy lights all over police cars, ambulances, fire trucks and even construction vehicles and tow trucks now it's crazy. I find them very distracting (especially at night) and suspect they're actually DECREASING safety because they're so intense and chaotic. It seems it's become more about which department / organization can out-light-show the others than it is about motoring safety now. Crazy. Wonder if they've caused any epileptic seizures too. Wouldn't surprise me...

[ckelly78z]

Around where I live and commute, it seems a theme that everyone has thier new bright white (or worse yet the blue ones) headlights and also have a set or two of driving lights. Some tool the other day in a big pickup truck had two headlights, two driving lights, and two grille lights all blasting into the mirrors of my low slung 944.

I have found through experimetation, that I can move my drivers side mirror far enough down and out to reflect all the light back into their eyes. You should see how quick they drop back from 2 car lengths to 10 or more car lengths when I move my mirror.

[NY65912]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

I have found through experimetation, that I can move my drivers side mirror far enough down and out to reflect all the light back into their eyes. You should see how quick they drop back from 2 car lengths to 10 or more car lengths when I move my mirror.

Me too!

I really started thinking that maybe at 59 my eyes were failing. My night vision, especially in the rain sucks. You don't want me driving you around in those conditions.

[Nathans_Dad]

I also think LEDs look horrible as Christmas lights. Too sterile!

[VINMAN]

The LED emergency lights on our firetrucks are ridiculous. They are so bright, to the point where they are dangerous. If I'm riding behind another truck I have to call on the radio, to the vehicle in front of me, to get them to turn off the rear flashers. I hate em. On the other hand, the LED scene lights we have are awesome. They are like daylight.

[GH85Carrera]

We were sitting at a red light last night waiting to turn left. A new Caddy was in front of us and his turn signal was just crazy bright. It light up the entire interior of my car and I was a car length behind him.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I find them very distracting (especially at night) and suspect they're actually DECREASING safety because they're so intense and chaotic.

Me too. They are so bright you can't see where you're going. There is an optimum amount of attention getting lighting, and these things certainly exceed it.

[masraum]

Get off my lawn!!!

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'll take the converse of this argument - older cars with incandescent lights are borderline unsafe due to the terrible illumination of the road ahead.

[Tervuren]

The root cause of the new emergency lightbars being more distracting, is not limited to the "brightness of the light" so to speak, but instead, its also the size of the source. The new led light bars are extremely low profile, so are sold as a way to improve MPG of the cruisers using them. Because the light is coming from a smaller source, its more concentrated, and provides a greater contrast for the same light level on the ground around the car.

On top of that, yes, the colored lights are brighter, as instead of filtering white light for just the blue or red, its able to actually have a blue source of light.

And yes, I find them distracting as all get out, and difficult to keep within a lane. It may be different for the police officer - who is not looking at the source, but instead, has a much brighter wash of light to see by.

[VINMAN]

Even worse is responding to a call in heavy rain or snow. All that light reflecting back at you.

.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

I also think LEDs look horrible as Christmas lights. Too sterile!

There are different "color" white lights. The "Cold" and "Cool" are bluish. The "Warm" are a yellowish. You need about 5000K in color. Anything higher is "harsh". The higher temperature color LEDs are lower in power per lumen.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by masraum

Get off my lawn!!!

[red-beard]

Back on topic:

What does 'Color Temperature/Value' Mean? - Go Green LED Bulbs

What does 'Color Temperature/Value' Mean?

The color temperature or color value of a light bulb is used to define the color of the light emitted from the light bulb. Color temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin (K), which is a numerical scale used to describe the color of light. The color temperature correlates with the color description. Light bulbs with a lower Kelvin temperature emit more of a yellowish, and sometimes reddish, tinted color of light. This color of light is sometimes referred to as “warm white”, similar to the light intensity of a sunrise or sunset, and is usually measured at 2700K to 3500K. The next highest range of color temperature is from 4000K to 4500K and emits what is considered a “natural white” color of light. The brightest color of light is measured at 5000K to 6000K and is known as “bright white” or “daylight” because it slightly mimics the intensity of light emitted from the sun during the daytime on a clear, sunny day. Any light with a color temperature greater then 6000K are considered “cool white” and have a bluish tint to it. Some of the criticism that comes with LED light bulbs is that they are too bright. However, LED light bulbs come in lower Kelvin temperatures that are very similar to the light emitted from traditional incandescent bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs range from 2700K to 4500K. Fluorescent bulbs emit more of a cool white color temperature.