How do we stop people from blinding other drivers with aftermarket LEDs?
It might be stating the obvious, but your car's headlights are a safety device, and not all headlights are created equal. For a while, carmakers have been fitting powerful LED headlights to their high-end offerings, but more often than not, their cheaper cars—and particularly cheaper trim levels—get saddled with much-weaker illumination. But sometimes a commuter wants to see more of where they're going when the sun goes down. Eventually, they go looking for a solution, starting with their local automotive parts store. But stuffing aftermarket LED headlight bulbs into OEM housings designed for conventional halogen units results in dangerous glare for oncoming drivers. While LEDs can deliver more intense light at a higher end of the spectrum, most aftermarket units also create a hazardous condition.To get more news about car led headlights, you can visit iengniek official website.
The major brick-and-mortar auto parts stores know this, which is why they tend to shy away from aftermarket H11 LED bulbs, other than ones clearly marked for use in fog lamps or "for off-road use only." It's a different world online, with off-brand H11 LED bulb listings on Amazon, eBay, and Walmart websites failing to carry the same prominent warnings.
You can get pulled over for non-spec headlamps, and for a good reason. In addition to issuing a citation, the law enforcement officer may have the legal right to force you to remove the bulbs. More ominously, once the officer has pulled you over, you risk a vehicle search. With all that in mind, it would be wise to keep a set of securely packaged OEM bulbs in the glovebox or trunk if you are running aftermarket LEDs.
With LED technology rapidly evolving, the industry in a constant beta-test state. While the lighting giants are incredibly cautious in bringing new products to the market, as drivers we're all guinea pigs on four wheels for off-brand manufacturers that spin out new bulbs like chickens lay eggs. The lack of regulation enforcement and objective, independent testing puts lives at risk.
Although Consumer Reports tests new vehicle headlamps, it hasn't tackled the topic of LED replacement bulbs, despite Consumer Reports' extensive resources. A comprehensive Consumer Reports aftermarket LED replacement bulb test would go a long way to bring clarity to the market. Consumer Reports' testing of conventional replacement bulbs found that while aftermarket units can improve headlight brightness, there's much more to it than that. "Distance and how far a headlight illuminates is governed more by the reflector (behind the bulb) or the lens (ahead of the bulbs). While you can change the bulb, you are not changing the distance, i.e., not necessarily improving safety."
High-end headlights are now a must if an automaker wants the coveted Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ designation for a particular model of car. While IIHS performs exhaustive headlamp testing with new cars and SUVs in their laboratory and test track, it does not have an official position on aftermarket replacement bulbs for older vehicles. The IIHS recommends that you make your vehicle purchase decisions carefully, considering not just the make and model but the specific trim level.