On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 10:29:37 -0700, "Neil Williams" <chiefneil (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote:


Hi Folks

This is getting a bit long -- Euro cut-off HID and US lamps so I've deleted the
main repeats.

What most people fail to recognise is the safety factor involved. Over here in
Euro-land we are quite densely populated compared to the nether regions of the
US and that leads us to the face that unless one is on the top of a mountain
somewhere in Europe there will be other folk nearby driving cars. Not many
really deserted roads for long periods.

We also don't have many overhead signs and traffic lights - but then traffic
lights are alight and quite easy to spot (quite a new thing in the UK as they
were illegal until about 15 years ago).

I do remember reading in a "Hot Rod" (type) of magazine some years ago about
replacing one of the, then, 25W main beam inner light units with a 200W unit
from a light aircraft landing light assembly aimed high to see down the road and
to hit the suspended signs. Vast improvement at the time - but highly dangerous
all the same.

Now with technology improving things we have regressed to the "carbon" movie
lights or WW2 search light technology and also incorporated the horizontal
cut-off to stop blinding oncoming drivers or when following drivers too close.
** note** doesn't always work.

I can see the reason for disliking the Euro style light especially when one is
so used to the low quality lighting on the US cars spreading the light in all
directions. Then again think about the designed speed for which they were
intended. 55MPH - 70MPH and occasionally the odd place where there are no
limits in the US.

Now in Europe the average highway speed is 70MPH and Germany is unlimited
(Autobahns or Motorways) but most travel at least 10% faster and I regularly go
over 100 when it's safe to do so (someone will say it's not).

The average road in the US is not dead flat as one would be led to think but
quite the opposite. Away from the Freeways the road surface can be anything
from a dirt track to a tarmac dirt-track with so many advertising signs in
populated communities it' virtually unbelievable to the average European
tourist.

Slow moving traffic does not require lights built for 150MPH cars and that's
what you get. It also helps to regulate the traffic speed because if you can't
see where you are going you won't go there so fast! (some will).

So as much as I can't see the $500 outlay for lights that will never be used as
intended - Like living in the centre of London / New York and hardly venturing
outside at night. I can see the point if the car is regularly used in the dark.

Traffic signs in Euro-land are on the road-side not overhead unless on Motorway
gantries but even then you have road-side signs well before the gantry signs
which are fluorescent and reflective in the little stray light from the "sharp
cut-off" headlight beams.

Perhaps if the US used a little of European technology in their road signs and
headlights we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Hugh

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen
hsg (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk
hsg (AT) bognor-bill (DOT) co.uk
http://www.bognor-bill.co.uk
Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

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