1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

LED Headlights: Getting Flashed by Oncoming Drivers

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Jonny Zero, Sep 28, 2012.

  1. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    1,388
    351
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I travel at night on unlit 2-lane country roads regularly.

    I have been flashed by oncoming drivers on occasions. I have LED low beams, factory aim, which is quite low. Since the cut off is very clean, I can plainly see, the oncoming driver is in the dark shadow dips, on the left side of the beams. There is no way I am blinding them.

    The only reason I figure, is that they get close enough to see that I have two pods lit up in each headlight, and ASSUME that I am running high beams, and feel like they have to police me some even they are not blinded. I have a friend with a Mustang GT with grille mounted fog lights, he reports the same thing when he is on low beams + fogs.

    Has any other Five owner observe this?
     
    #1 Jonny Zero, Sep 28, 2012
  2. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    1,826
    515
    6
    Location:
    Pleasanton, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Not a Five owner, but I'm guessing with your brighter and bluish white lights (as opposed to the dimmer yellow halogens), people are assuming you have your brights on.
     
    #2 Codyroo, Sep 28, 2012
  3. Eclipse1701d

    Eclipse1701d Prius Enthusiast

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    645
    223
    0
    Location:
    Nature coast, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    I have HID's on my 07 and get flashed at least once a night. Then, I blind them when I flash my hi-beams back.
     
    #3 Eclipse1701d, Sep 28, 2012
  4. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    1,826
    515
    6
    Location:
    Pleasanton, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    That is one way to let them know the they were incorrect in flashing you (for bright lights). But if your headlights are misaimed, that is another issue......(I don't think this is the case for Jonny Zero though)
     
    #4 Codyroo, Sep 28, 2012
  5. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2011
    2,171
    659
    23
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If your low-beams seem blinding to people, then they may be too bright. Blinding oncoming drivers is NOT a safe condition.
     
    #5 Corwyn, Sep 28, 2012
  6. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I've been told by many many people wow, your headlights are bright. This was on my 2010 and current 2012 both of which had the LED headlights. People just don't like you have good headlights and theirs suck lol.
     
    #6 Paradox, Sep 28, 2012
  7. Metalman

    Metalman Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2010
    107
    17
    0
    Location:
    Summer, KY; Winter FL
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I think the focus area on some of the new headlights is so concentrated that when there is even a slight uphill incline relative to oncoming vehicles, it can cause glare or retina burn problems. The key to facing bright headlights is to concentrate on the right side (America) of the road and not become mesmerized and blinded by looking directly into the bright lights.
     
    #7 Metalman, Sep 28, 2012
    GrGramps likes this.
  8. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    1,388
    351
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Well I have no control of what the oncoming driver (or deer) stares at. :mad:
     
    #8 Jonny Zero, Sep 28, 2012
  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    If they are flashing you and they are hot please post pics. ;)
     
    #9 F8L, Sep 28, 2012
    sfv41901, Jonny Zero and wotcher like this.
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,931
    49,507
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    :ROFLMAO:
     
    #10 bisco, Sep 28, 2012
  11. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2010
    1,179
    366
    1
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I've never been flashed, and I even raised my headlights to get them to the correct cutoff. But I also don't drive on dark country roads very often.
     
    #11 macman408, Sep 29, 2012
  12. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,979
    3,214
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I have a Three and even with the standard lights, I get flashed. I think it's because there's 4 clear bulbs in the front that are lit at night, and of course 4 lit lights means highbeams. :D
     
    #12 El Dobro, Sep 29, 2012
  13. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    1,388
    351
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Giggidy
     
    #13 Jonny Zero, Sep 29, 2012
  14. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    1,388
    351
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Any difference in output (beam pattern, brightness) between the 3-LED setup, and the newer 2-LED setup?
     
    #14 Jonny Zero, Sep 29, 2012
  15. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Nah, none that I can obviously notice. The 3rd led in the 2010/11 was just a flood type light to fill in area up close and to be honest they must have just made the new 2 projectors (like the old setup) a wider or taller spread of focused light to compensate for that close up area.

    I had a file showing the beam pattern for the 2010/11 but I forget it it showed the lit area for the flood light or just the 2 projectors. If I can find one for the redesigned 2012 led headlights maybe it would show how they refocused the beams.
     
    #15 Paradox, Sep 29, 2012
  16. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2010
    1,179
    366
    1
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    If you haven't already thought of it, you might consider asking a friend to drive towards you on some such dark country road, and tell you if there's something wrong. You could also have him drive your car, and see for yourself.
     
    #16 macman408, Oct 1, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)