Headlights and oncoming traffic
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Senior User
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Headlights and oncoming traffic
So I am now getting half a dozen on coming Hi-beam flashes per morning when I drive to work. I have a feeling this is going to escalate into a road rage incident at some point in time.
As anybody brought this to Ford's attention? Curious on the response. I assume there some type of NTSB guidelines for lumens. how about the Ford Reps to troll this board? Any comments?
As anybody brought this to Ford's attention? Curious on the response. I assume there some type of NTSB guidelines for lumens. how about the Ford Reps to troll this board? Any comments?
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,121
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From: NH
So I am now getting half a dozen on coming Hi-beam flashes per morning when I drive to work. I have a feeling this is going to escalate into a road rage incident at some point in time.
As anybody brought this to Ford's attention? Curious on the response. I assume there some type of NTSB guidelines for lumens. how about the Ford Reps to troll this board? Any comments?
As anybody brought this to Ford's attention? Curious on the response. I assume there some type of NTSB guidelines for lumens. how about the Ford Reps to troll this board? Any comments?
You can attempt to aim the lights down. My LED lights seem to be aimed just perfectly. If someone flashes me, I give them a quick high beam so they know I'm not a jerk.
That said, if you do get in a road rage incident, at least you're in a Super Duty, lol.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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Demo-man.....I started a post on this a few weeks back. Just search and you can find it. My concern was exactly what you are describing. These STOCK trucks are blinding to the oncoming drivers. I have no level..no lift. I personally...think the LEDs need to be toned down a bit..and we could still have clean, bright light on these awesome trucks. One other thing I mentioned was....It's not just the oncoming traffic that is affected. When you pull up to someone at a light, hands are going up and blocking my lights because it is BLINDING in the rear view mirrors of the vehicles in front of me. I never saw this with my 2011...ever...unless I accidently left the brights on. Of course....in my other post, some forum members were saying...blah blah...I never get flashed...blah blah....don't pull up so close behind someone at a light...stop whining about it.... etc. Trust me...I LOVE these lights as a driver...but I guarantee...like you stated....someone is going to get out of their car and come back pissed off that our lights are so dang bright. It's gonna happen...just give it time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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Lots of comments about this on this board. The LED's seem to be getting more flashes, but even the halogens are as well.
You can attempt to aim the lights down. My LED lights seem to be aimed just perfectly. If someone flashes me, I give them a quick high beam so they know I'm not a jerk.
That said, if you do get in a road rage incident, at least you're in a Super Duty, lol.
You can attempt to aim the lights down. My LED lights seem to be aimed just perfectly. If someone flashes me, I give them a quick high beam so they know I'm not a jerk.
That said, if you do get in a road rage incident, at least you're in a Super Duty, lol.
Troverman...if your lights seem to be aimed "just perfectly"..then you wouldn't be getting flashed now would you.....LOL. We know you are not a jerk....but you can't explain that in two passing cars.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,121
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From: NH
2. I have been flashed, but when I pull up right behind let's say a Camry, at a traffic light, my beams are sitting squarely on his trunk lid. No light coming inside and reflecting in the mirror. However, its not uncommon to be blinded by traffic behind you...that is why all automotive mirrors either have a manual "Day/Night" position or are auto-dimming.
My hypothesis is that some people are bothered by the sheer brightness of the elements rather than the level of the light. Some folks might mistake us for those idiots who install aftermarket xenon or LED bulbs into a halogen headlight housing which produces uncontrolled glare. Those people should be shot, lol. Or better yet, be forced to look at their own headlights for hours on end while they try to drive in a rainstorm.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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Yeah...your truck might be a bit lower in the front. I'm going to try moving my lights down just a bit and see if it makes a difference. I can't make one night drive without getting flashed. What's weird is....not everyone flashes me, so maybe they just know it's the new technology coming at them. I've wanted to flash a few Chevy's but I see they have their lower running lights on so I know it's not their brights. I have been shutting my lights down to the parking lights if I'm sitting at a light and see I'm blinding the drivers in front. Also staying a little further back.....but I shouldn't have to do either.....
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 656
From: NH
Yeah...your truck might be a bit lower in the front. I'm going to try moving my lights down just a bit and see if it makes a difference. I can't make one night drive without getting flashed. What's weird is....not everyone flashes me, so maybe they just know it's the new technology coming at them. I've wanted to flash a few Chevy's but I see they have their lower running lights on so I know it's not their brights. I have been shutting my lights down to the parking lights if I'm sitting at a light and see I'm blinding the drivers in front. Also staying a little further back.....but I shouldn't have to do either.....
I am rarely getting flashed. Just once in a while. Never happened on my previous Super Duty trucks, but that is probably due to them having among the worst lights on the road.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Ann Arbor MI
My halogen headlights get me brighter by about 1 in every 8 cars. Mostly smaller cars that I can tell. I just wonder what they think when I pull back the lever and give them a quick bast of the real brights! I had one guy seemingly drift over toward me while holding his brights to show his displeasure. I just blasted my brights and held my course... he quickly moved back into his lane
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Fleet Mechanic
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I wonder if people automatically assume your brights are lit simply because there are 4 lit primary elements with the new design.....where in almost every other vehicle, that would indicate high beams are on.
Maybe they are not necessarily giving you a complaint of being dazzled by the light...but are trying to communicate that they think your high beams are lit.
Maybe they are not necessarily giving you a complaint of being dazzled by the light...but are trying to communicate that they think your high beams are lit.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
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From: BC Canada
Especially If doing any changes to how the truck sits re aiming is a must. I have yet to be flashed. Often you can see me from far away go down from high to low with the driving lights on. That tells them you are on low beam. A simple flash will explain back pretty quick, you are on low. Mine are aimed very well, running empty but I am thinking when I load or have a trailer if back is down proportionally more than front, or I do a front leveling, this will make a significant difference to the cutoff. I would suggest marks on you wall and then adjusting down accordingly. You also need to mark the center of the main light on each side and be sure you are not point towards on coming traffic.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2016
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My hypothesis is that some people are bothered by the sheer brightness of the elements rather than the level of the light. Some folks might mistake us for those idiots who install aftermarket xenon or LED bulbs into a halogen headlight housing which produces uncontrolled glare. Those people should be shot, lol. Or better yet, be forced to look at their own headlights for hours on end while they try to drive in a rainstorm.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
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From: North of Salt Lake City
Demo-man.....I started a post on this a few weeks back. Just search and you can find it. My concern was exactly what you are describing. These STOCK trucks are blinding to the oncoming drivers. I have no level..no lift. I personally...think the LEDs need to be toned down a bit..and we could still have clean, bright light on these awesome trucks. One other thing I mentioned was....It's not just the oncoming traffic that is affected. When you pull up to someone at a light, hands are going up and blocking my lights because it is BLINDING in the rear view mirrors of the vehicles in front of me. I never saw this with my 2011...ever...unless I accidently left the brights on. Of course....in my other post, some forum members were saying...blah blah...I never get flashed...blah blah....don't pull up so close behind someone at a light...stop whining about it.... etc. Trust me...I LOVE these lights as a driver...but I guarantee...like you stated....someone is going to get out of their car and come back pissed off that our lights are so dang bright. It's gonna happen...just give it time.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 308
Likes: 1
From: Ann Arbor MI
It's true that I've never been flashed at night yet and I have a 1.5 inch level. Must be a regional thing. Maybe people in your area are just more pissed off? lol. I do use the auto high beams and if the oncoming traffic sees the high beams switch off they don't bother flashing? I don't see an explanation for why some folks are getting flashed a lot and others not at all.
