To Beam or not to Beam

[Friz]

Something I've noticed: British vloggers headlights seem to be much brighter and better focused than the lights over here in the US. When they are riding at dusk/dawn I'm pretty shocked at how far down the road I can see their light. Maybe that's why none of you guys over there run your brights during the day. What are dipped lights? We only have brights and dims.(unless you have fog lights)

Your "dims" might be the same as our dipped.

It's just where the light is angled towards the ground so it lights up only the road in front of you, unlike high beams where it lights up everything.

The light isn't quite as bright either, I don't think.
But I'm no lighting expert so I could be talking balls.

 

[Premises187]

If you're filtering a ton of traffic then I'd say it's alright to high-beam day or night.
When you're passing 1 cage every 2 seconds than a tiny moment of headlight glare shouldn't put anyones panties in a bunch.
It's just annoying when someone is sitting behind you with their high beam on practically disabling your mirror.

But... dazzling vehicles in an oncoming lane isn't cool.

 

[Bikermole]

I run dipped all the time (can't turn my lights off) Unless I'm out on an unlit stretch of road, at night, then I'll switch to my main beams, until I seen an oncoming car, then I'll turn the dipped back on.

 

[DodgeRider26]

The lighting standards in the EU allow for brighter lumen output than here in the US. In the USA we have less factory tint on our car windows so the DOT (Department of Transportation) requires dimmer headlights to compensate. In most of Europe they have a couple % darker basic tint on car windows which allowed them to compensate with brighter headlights. The advantage is no apparent difference in light perceived by your eye, yet allowing for further view down the road at night.

In actuality, the headlights really are brighter and better in the EU than in the USSA (extra S added intentionally).



In response to the question... no, I never run high beams during the day. Drivers in Kansas City, USA are so oblivious they wouldn't see me if I was their fucking cell phone they were typing on instead of driving. I just drive 140-150mph faster than them and don't worry about what they do behind me.