Getting "flashed" with headlights while driving...

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I just got flashed tonight for the first time (by an SUV, no less), but I have only had my car (with HID) for two and a half weeks and rarely drive after dark this time of year. Yes, my fog lights were on.

 

Re: Getting "flashed" with headlights while drivin

No fog lights in use when I get flashed either...

 

Re: Getting "flashed" with headlights while drivin

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jsarich\";p=\"43225)</div>

We have a 1 lane bridge near my house. People frequently flash the highs to say "Thanks" when both cars approach at the same time. I thought about it some time back and decided it was better at night to quickly switch them off, then on so as to NOT blind the considerate person

There are specifications as to the height and position of the headlight beams at a set distance from the car on a level surface. I don't think the Prius (Halogen or HID) is any different than a 'normal' car in that respect. I see no reason why the original poster should NOT ask the shop to do a quick check, in case they are off.

 

Interestingly, I have not been "flashed" in the short time I've had my car. It has HID lights so I was sort of expecting it given prior posts. I can agree that the combination of headlights and fog lights could be a problem. I don't know if it is in the Prius, but last night I came to an intersection where the 2 way road meets head on to a one way coming at me. You have to turn left at that light. There was a large pickup facing me, headlights and fog lights on. The fogs were really big and overly bright. Whether they were properly aligned or not I do not know but they were not necessary on a lighted road.

 

Re: Getting "flashed" with headlights while drivin

I got flashed after getting out of my Prius at Bloomingdales. The person was obviously nuts, because he was wearing a long coat and exposing his genitals to everyone coming into the mall. Security arrested him while I was leaving!

 

LOL that was a good one!!!!!

 

oh heck... i thought it was "lesser" vehicles saluting to the "KING"....

maybe not...

 

If you are getting flashed it almost always means that your headlights are aimed too high.

Flashing back with your highbeams is not helping the situation, either. It is the automotive lighting equivalent of saying "F you buddy i'll drive however I wanna drive even if i am ignorant to the real issue!!"

 

nhluhr

Actually I think the exact opposite. I do a rapid flash back to let them know that I got their message but I did not have my high beams on. Otherwise they might think that I was ignoring them and that too would be rude.

But I do it rapidly so as to not truly affect their vision.

Meanwhile, I drive at night quite a bit but have not been flashed yet.

I do use my flasher for other things. If I'm driving by a group of bicyclists or a broken down car or any other item that is blocking the lane of travel, I flash my lights quickly for the next half mile or so. I do it in hopes of increasing the vigilance. When I was young we flashed our highs to warn oncoming traffic that there was a speed trap ahead. I don't do that hardly at all anymore but I figure it still gets people to wake up and pay attention.

And isn't that why the flasher option exists in the first place? And helping our fellow man, isn't that why humans were given some of OUR options?

 

i agree with Prius04. i flashback to let them know that that is the way my headlights are.

as far as aimed to high. nope, its the way it came from the factory and yes i get flashes from some. but that is normal. i cant tell you how many vehicles i see that have bright lights but not because of aim, its the way the vehicle sits and the lights they are using.

and yes... i dont have HID and these are by far the brightest headlights i have ever had.

 

well at least you're doing it quickly like a ping return... I've been with some people that get rather vengeful behind the wheel when flashed - they pull the stalk and hold it as if to say "ha ha a-hole take that" - sounds like you're at least doing it with the right motives!

it's actually "Flash to pass"

 

Re: Getting "flashed" with headlights while drivin

On my first night drive with our new Prii (AM “safety model†with HID), I was stopped in the left turn lane of a four-way signal controlled intersection. I felt like flashing the car directly across from me as their lights were obnoxiously bright, but I thought twice as I am intelligent enough not to stare into headlights. :crazyeyes:

The offending car got the green signal first. It was an ‘04-‘05 Prii with HID lights!
Holy Cow! Them things were bright . . . and white! 8)

The next time I was at that intersection in daylight I realized the offending car’s location was probably three to four feet higher than where I was while being blinded. Not only was it on higer ground, it was sitting on a level area prior to entering the intersection. Well of course they were bright . . . THEY ARE BRIGHT! . . . especially when your eyes are on the same level as the offending headlights!

Those of you who got flashed: Any idea if you were on higher ground?

If the auto leveling headlights are keeping the lights level while we are driving downhill, I can see how oncoming traffic is being blinded by our lights aiming directly into their eyes.

Is that the way the Prii auto level works?

 

my Prius doesnt have auto level headlights. they are only on the HID's

 

Re: Getting "flashed" with headlights while drivin

My 2004 Prius had the headlights aimed FAR too high. I took delivery in October and had to drive to Minneapolis to attend a conference. At night, even the semi's were flashing me.

Then they would flick to high beam and leave them on.

So that told me the aim was seriously fubar'd. I had very poor illumination on low, and on high I barely illuminated the tops of trees.

I went to an Autopac-certified body shop the dealer recommended - and paid for - for an aim. They used a very sophisticated digital aiming machine that had a special rail bolted to the floor at one corner of the shop. Apparently, it's Autopac regulation that headlight aim MUST be performed after a front-end repair.

The tech used a laser on the machine to determine the hood height, windshield centerline, and headlight centerline. He then had me turn on the headlights and the machine started beeping an alarm.

The headlights were so high they barely even registered in the top of the screen. The tech really had to crank them down quite a bit.

The aiming machine was quite neat: it would even beep faster as he approached the "recommended" beam cutoff. Once he hit the proper cutoff, the beeping became a steady tone, just like aiming a DirecTV dish. He had to adjust the left headlight to the right a bit, and the right headlight to the left a bit.

He even checked the foglights, and they were properly aimed.

It was a Friday so I headed out to the hobby farm. I could not BELIEVE the difference in headlight performance! It really pays to have your headlights properly adjusted.

BTW: have not had anybody flash at me since

 

Re: Getting "flashed" with headlights while drivin

How much should one expect to pay for this service.

 

my lights are aimed high but too high?? nope. i have had a few people comment that my low beams lit up the road as well as the high beams on their car did.

best way to determine if your beams are too low is drive in thick fog. if they are aimed high, you wont be able to see a thing.

we have had several foggy days in my area and i could see just fine.

 

Re: Getting "flashed" with headlights while drivin

I called the body shop this morning and they said it would cost $55 CDN, plus PST/GST.

If your low beams light up the road as well as most car high beams, then perhaps the headlights are too high. According to the tech that aimed my car, the advanced optics in most new cars has little tolerance for misaiming.

Most folks may be dazzled by slightly high headlight aim but not flash at you. In my case, even the truckers were flashing me, then switching to high. I'm not sure how Toyota could allow the car to leave the factory in Japan with the headlights aimed that high.

 

Re: Getting "flashed" with headlights while drivin

No. The auto leveling is only to compensate for weight in the back of the car. It does not have any ability to make sure they hit the road at the proper distance regardless of road height changes..