How Headlights Became So High-Tech

Headlights are quietly undergoing a technological revolution, and regulators are trying to catch up.
For much of automotive history, innovation came to headlights gradually. But over the last few decades, the pace has quickened. Now, automakers are using LED technology to create arrays of tiny lights that can cast complex beam patterns. The so-called adaptive driving beams can illuminate an entire road while shutting off any bulbs that would shine in the eyes of oncoming drivers.
Even more sophisticated headlights have such high resolution that they can display graphics or even animations. These could be used to display warnings or other important information in front of the driver. In theory, the technology could enable a car to project an entire movie from its headlamps.
As of now, federal regulators are in the process of making rules that could completely change the way drivers see the road and each other.
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How Headlights Became So High-Tech

[@eternalwarrior5318]

the sound is like those instructional videos u watch after getting a job

[@noeherrera8248]

Recorded on an 80s recorder

[@MrRobot191]

its a history show , why not enjoy it while it last

[@Watts378]

lol well said!

[@Zaptosis]

I'm amazed by how often CNBC makes high quality videos like this

[@boxoffisa]

With poor audio.

[@isaacngatia8749]

The sound quality is awful.

[@will-la]

Intern about to get fired 😂

[@PotatoCruncher12]

@@will-la LMAO

[@VictorEstrada]

That would be because they're zoom calls genius. Hope it didn't permanently damage your hearing...

[@VictorEstrada]

@@TheFalseShepphard I could hear and understand him just fine, if you couldn't, then that's another problem...

[@tuna3875]

@@TheFalseShepphard i could hear him fine

[@robmatpol]

Content great. “Background” music is distractingly loud, monotonous and unnecessary.

[@Psycandy]

The audio is set up for 5.1, with speech LR and music C, but here it's downmixed to stereo and the C channel now has 50% of the signal. it's what happens when you convert a file, or play back on a 2-channel system.

[@be5952]

@@Psycandy --- Thank you for your explanation. I don't understand the science, but the concept is clear. *_But_* (

[@Psycandy]

@@be5952 plenty of ways but none simple! you'll find other vids are stereo from the get-go, so they don't have issues. Hollywood movies would have the same problem, so they specially curate the audio for the trailers. Some air crash vids on YT you can't hear the voice over at all

[@Psycandy]

@Steven Strain I have tinnitus so I can relate! It's the same with eyesight. With one eye you can't see 3D and with one ear, you can't hear 3D. I also produce animation and I can tell you, for an emotional response, sound does 75% of the work. It is at least 3 times more important than the visual aspect.

Totally agree. It was so monotonous.

[@pushpakpolanianandhakumar2457]

Why the music in the background ? At times, i can't hear the speaker

[@krane15]

They need adaptive background music.

[@gegori]

The biggest problem is the US is that our DOT regulations are years behind the European ECE versions of the same headlights. This has been going on for over 50 years. When the US had sealed beams, Europe used a halogen systems with replaceable H4/H1 halogen bulbs and the lens pattern was much better since it produced a short cutoff line that did not blind on-coming traffic like the DOT pattern. When Xenon/HIDs came out, the US DOT versions were inferior again due to less brightness and a beam pattern that was hindered by using a diffused lens. European high beams are twice as bright as the US versions. Now Europe has LEDs with adaptive high beams but again DOT versions inferior. The US needs to just adapt to the superior versions of headlights that are used all over the world.

[@dbwater5154]

I completely agree, and have been saying this for many years. And Im in Canada. I'll also add to that the need to KEEP, not remove the Rear Fog light. another top notch idea and standard law in EU, where here it is not. And in Canada and the northern states, where WInter is a serious thing that brings low visibility. The rear fog lamp is a life saver!

[@User-cb4jm]

Can’t believe US doesn’t have matrix headlights

[@LooNeYlv]

The biggest problem is the human brains living in US, because everyone has 'rights' there... So every time some new legislation comes out, pitchforks also comes out and everybody starts to cry and fight against any new laws because they have rights for 'freedom' and nobody can make do anything that a person don't want to do, etc...

[@DC3Refom]

These led headlights are still binding here in the UK despite reg , especially as the Americanism bs with big suvs and pick up trucks is now common

[@popeband]

The sound quality needs some help

[@TheLiamster]

Your hearing quality needs some help

[@theonewiththegoldentouch]

Ikr it sucks bad.

[@Gambit771]

@@TheLiamster The audio mixing between the background music and the different voices is appalling. Has nothing to do with a person's hearing ability.

[@katee6551]

The most annoying thing are those HID or LED conversion kits that people put on their lifted trucks and SUVs... especially if they're on halogen housings.

[@KodiD420]

Agreed. I also noticed that these cheap LED lightbulbs flicker when you look at them in the rearview mirror.

[@Q_QQ_Q]

@@KodiD420 hate led

[@ToddTinley]

@@Q_QQ_Q HIKARI Acme-X LED Bulbs work great. Been using them for years and the beam pattern is very safe for oncoming drivers.

[@Q_QQ_Q]

@@ToddTinley looks good but will see .

[@TopiasSalakka]

The biggest problem is that most who buy LED bulbs just get the cheapest ones from Amazon, where the LEDs aren't in the focal point, causing glare. Ever since Philips started selling affordable but good quality LED bulbs here in Finland, i haven't seen even a single blinding LED conversion.

[@rl1271]

"If you've ever turned on your brights at a driver in an oncoming lane because you thought his brights were on too, then he retaliates and turns his brights on; Go ahead and hit that like button"

[@oksowhat]

i just press the pass button and the other guy lowers his beam, sorry cant relate i live in a civilized country

[@meawwow]

@@oksowhat Mr. Tree you are an Indian just like me😂😂. . .Let's not kid ourselves. . .Indian drivers can compete with Americans if the competition is who's the worse🔥😂

[@rashid510]

You mean off

[@Q_QQ_Q]

hate LED lights . cant see fcukin roads

[@tyronesimpson8276]

Was that a Garand Thumb reference I detect?!?!?!

[@usgator]

I’ve got adaptive headlights (turn with the steering wheel) on my car. They have tons of motors and plastic parts and replacing the headlight (not the bulb) costs about $1500. It’s insane.

[@eskimochild87]

I love my adaptive headlights

[@Q_QQ_Q]

just rental economy LOL

[@DavidJGillCA]

What car brand, model, year?

[@lawrencefearon6830]

They seldom break on Mercedes cars.

[@usgator]

@@DavidJGillCA 2011 BMW 335i

[@lay10vids]

I worked at a drive-in movie theater for the last year. On my drives home at night, there would always be one person with absurdly bright headlights. The glare on my windshield was so bad, I was always scared I would fly off the road, since I couldn’t see anything other than white…

[@edenreyes4747]

I have the same problem that you have they should get rid of them and now every car have these dame bright light

[@mannotwiththeplan]

You can flash your high beams. Sometimes people left their high beams on and don't even know they're on.

[@ToddTinley]

@@mannotwiththeplan Or they just drive with no lights on during the night.

[@willstikken5619]

Perhaps it's time to clean your windshield, inside and out...

[@TopiasSalakka]

@@willstikken5619 Or even get it changed, if it becomes way too scratched it causes really bad glare.

[@paladain55]

Alternate Title: "How headlights became unrepairable and expensive"

[@LordCoeCoe]

Do they get destroyed that often? Do you repair your cars yourself?

[@paladain55]

Yes. Usually its as easy as replacing burned out bulbs for $2-15, or replacing the whole housing for $60-250 each. New ones have internally sealed non replaceable leds, hids, etc.. motorized assemblies. Not uncommon to see a $1500 headlight now. $3000 for a set. Not a problem on a $35000 car but in 10 years when it is worth $7000 and a couple leds have burned out or the headlight is leaking it will be. For example I put new headlights on my Sequoia for $120 because of heavy oxidation and uv damage, water in the housing from bad seals and hairline cracks. Picked up some new bulbs for it as well for $15. Pretty painless.

[@LordCoeCoe]

@@paladain55 cars are getting very advanced. Soon every car will be electric so things are going to be quite expensive.

[@paladain55]

@@LordCoeCoe somewhat. I have a Prius as well and its extremely repairable. Battery is easily serviceable. Things can be made serviceable if the manufacturers try.

[@MylesV]

@@LordCoeCoe If it is done right electric cars are cheaper and easier to maintain/repair than vehicles powered by complex combustion engines. Nothing about them is inherently expensive to repair but many mainstream EVs that are currently on the market are luxury vehicles which have lots of expensive to repair features regardless of fuel type.

[@mfinite689]

Did anyone actually watch this video before uploading it? Sounds like the narrator is talking into a pillow.

[@justSTUMBLEDupon]

I hate it when the damn headlights light up my cabin. It’s not even pointing to the road. It’s actually pointing at the driver

[@heatherhaack4804]

I just had this problem last night, where some douchenozzle hovered in my left blind spot for like 10 minutes going down a two lane highway and it was bouncing off all my mirrors lighting up the inside of my car like a pyramid.

[@chrono1975]

thats mostly a problem with people using LED bulbs, they don't work right in reflector housing and they are bright as heck and can't be aimed right, I live in a rural area so I can feel your pain. I have retrofitted HID's and aimed right they are amazing.

[@jo-vf8jx]

@@heatherhaack4804 that’s when I move my side mirror(s) until the situation has passed, then I’ll move them back where I had them.

[@samlung2724]

Hid's in a reflector is a no all around but leds in reflectors can be aimed. I have led in my car and I adjusted it where it has a good cutoff line (not as crisp as projector ofc but still)

[@Kradle]

They're great until you get into a tiny front end fender bender and end up with $2000 in damage because the headlight itself cost $1200

[@Patrick94GSR]

Headlight assemblies have been relatively expensive ever since the replaceable halogen bulb came out. The safety benefits of the new technology far outweighs the potential cost of replacing an assembly, which most likely won’t be needed. Unless maybe you’re particularly accident prone.

[@Patrick94GSR]

@Michael Gia Huy Nguyen I’m not accident prone. Why would you think I am? Plus, only a portion of the population in the US have access to public transit. Most places have none available.

[@victorsvidss]

The fact is if you can afford a car with those kind of headlights chances are you have pretty good insurance

[@jokkeh3037]

So we should not innovate and not implement innovations because some people can't drive? Insurances are for these unlikely situations anyways so your argument doesn't make sense

[@h.d.h]

So don't have a $5000 deductible and learn to not have an accident

[@johnblaze8774]

I've noticed an increase in glare despite the LEDs. These modern cars lights are far too bright, especially on SUVs.

[@bonsai_wolverine]

Is it despite, or because of? Either way it has become painful to drive at night (and some DRLs are just as bad).

[@krane15]

They're not brighter, just a different temperature/color.

[@peterveto]

Yeah it's mainly "because of." Part of it is indeed the color temperature, but it's also about source luminance. So you have to separate "brighter" in terms of road illumination vs brighter as in the lamp looking brighter (more glaring) to others. The two are only somewhat correlated - e.g. the decrease in lamp size increases glare but doesn't increase road illumination...

[@paulrinehart4262]

That's right too bright.

[@krane15]

@@peterveto Better, but still incomplete considering glare is independent of temperature or brightness. The best fixtures start with lenses that focus the beam. A few manufacturers (Audi) have advanced up to lasers. Although I don't think those have been approved for use in the U.S. yet.

[@IftinAbshir]

My biggest pet peeve are DRLs that don’t connect the headlights, dash lights, and taillights. It is so dumb that some cars allow drivers to turn on headlights and not taillights! I have seen soo many near miss accidents because of this.

[@JohnRE]

I drive for a living and can totally relate to what you are saying. Newer cars have DRL's, but at night most drivers don't turn on their lights. I seen a lot of cars driving without their tail lights on because the drivers thinks his headlights and lights are all on. Yet my personal car which is 27 years old (1994 Mercedes SL500) came equipped with DRL's but it lights the headlight, taillights and side markers. Don't understand why American and Japanese cars don't do the same. I nearly had a close call last week, but that's a total different reason, guy driving a pickup with his car trailer hitched, seems he forgot to connect the wiring for his trailer lights, in an unlit 2 lane road going through a forest. My biggest peeve is those new led lights from Honda and Toyota they really blind you at night, weather I am driving a Grand Caravan, Sprinter Van. or Ford double axle bus, compared to American and German cars.

[@teomanefeaycan4854]

I don't know about the US manufacturers but the headlights on my base model 2020 Renault Clio have only 3 settings: Auto, parking laps, low/high beams. It is simply not possible to not have my taillights on in the dark. I suppose it is possible that after all these years automakers are finally taking a note on the careless drivers that somehow manage to mistake DRL's for their low beams.

[@richardnavratil9661]

I don't get why front DRLs aren't linked to taillights. In Europe in my country headlights must be on 24/7, but not taillights. And here in the US, I've see surprising amount of people drive with DRLs only (as they get fairly bright) and no taillights in the middle of the night. Honestly, those people shouldn't be on the road.

[@kennixox262]

@@JohnRE Don't get me started on the moronic lack of rear amber blinkers on cars sold in the United States. Red brake lights should not also be used as blinkers or flashers when stranded on the side of the roadway.

[@sneakerhead4770]

The idiots who drive with drl’s on and no actual headlight or taillight on are a pet peeve. And u can usually flash ur high beams at them for 20 mins and pull up next to them signaling turn ur lights on and they will just carry on clueless. If someone keeps flashing u something is probably not right.

[@JacobHolyfield]

The LED matrix could also be used to warn drivers of animals/hazards on the road by outlining them. That could be pretty cool

[@peterveto]

Some systems already do what you suggest and e.g. highlight pedestrians on the road, aiming to put the cut-off at chest-height. The whole process is pretty unreliable though and often creates extra glare for others.

[@SDav21]

@Jon VB Mercedes and Audi already have those. It highlights pedestrians and animals and can display hazard signs too. Tesla's lights can't do any of that.

[@arande3]

Ah yes, those lights that automatically detect an oncoming driver's retina and focus the entire beam directly at it. Very fancy.

[@FBISHOJI]

Pain

[@jblyon2]

That comes standard on a BMW.

[@M_DanielNY]

Audi definitely has one have the best headlights/designs in the automaker industry. I’m not surprised they’re coming out with those cool Audi Matrix Led lights👍

[@tobytoyota6936]

How much does it cost to repair?

[@headlightdesigngradacac]

@@tobytoyota6936 if you got money to buy a brand new audi with matrix headlights you dont care whats the cost and also you'll probably gonna drive it just while it's under warranty.

[@armenstaubach9276]

@@tobytoyota6936 Wrong question…. If you really care about such costs for a luxury car then stick with Toyota

[@Scotford_Maconochie]

With Audi you buy the headlights and the car comes with it.

[@Archman155]

@@armenstaubach9276 what about in ten years when theyre relatively cheap. devastating to longevity if a single headlight is ridiculously expensive

[@mrbrightside3771]

I like how the production team used a smartphone for mic. Way to go CNBC.

[@FBISHOJI]

Always work with what you got

[@louiegarcia7527]

NOTHING NOTHING BEATS THE GENUINE H-4 HEADLAMPS

[@RilRil]

A new type of windshield needs to be invented for the glare, there's no reason windshields can't have that if my glasses can have antiglare.

[@filbao8113]

Well said

[@trilliamc5185]

This !!!

[@eddy3080]

You can tint your windshield…doesn’t have to be the dark tint either.

[@dsteve2214]

@@eddy3080yes, 70% or 50% wont reduce your visibility, but will block out an insane amount of glare with windshield tint

[@HCG]

@@eddy3080 No. Not legally in most countries

[@bella_testastretta]

I still remember in highschool when Audi came out with their first daytime running lights.

[@maoss40]

Same here, and it use projecter when far away see purple flare, and than 3.2TL with HID

[@adgm917]

This is where it all started... Every car manufacturer looks over Audi's fence!

[@srodens]

I think you mean LED DRLs. Incandescent DRLs were first pioneered by Volvo in the 1970s.

[@aakeister]

The first cars with daytime running lights were Volvos actually

[@komentierer]

@@aakeister Volvo did not have dedicated running lights, they just left the headlights on and dimmed them.

[@rjjr7064]

I'm a huge fan of what I call "courtesy lights". Basically just dimmer lights than your standard. Like the opposite of brights. You could use them in cities where you don't need the power of your regular lights or when you're passing someone in the dark.

[@DC3Refom]

also when facing oncoming traffic you are supposed to switch to dipped beam

[@B4R0N.]

Moved to North America from Europe. First thing I noticed on the road was the amount of glare I got from headlights (aside from the insane amount of braindead drivers). The latest headlight tech that was made legal in Europe and other parts of the world helps A LOT. It should be to be made legal here too. It doesn't make sense to stay a decade behind (Audi introduced the first gen Matrix LEDs in the early 2010s) when the innovations in question are safer, better for everyone, and have already proven they work.

[@gdogg123uran]

They’re also becoming too damn bright, I get blinded almost every time

[@stbrian1861]

Please look up a petition called Ban Blinding Headlights and Save Lives ... Nearly 23K signatures

[@TopiasSalakka]

Yeah we should totally all just use candles as headlights so nobody sees anything.

[@stbrian1861]

@@TopiasSalakka ..., A truly ignorant response from a truly ignorant individual.

[@TopiasSalakka]

@@stbrian1861 Yeah you. Stop opposing progress.

[@stbrian1861]

@@TopiasSalakka ..., Asbestos was Progress, Lead in Paint and Gasoline was Progress. How did those turn out ? Those are Just 2 Examples of Progress. Just because "Technology" makes something possible, does Not mean that we should extend its usage in the mass market. The Lighting Industry has taken one of the most flexible lighting technologies available and limited it to levels that are NOT compatible with the Eye Structure of Human Beings especially during nighttime hours (specifically, Scotopic Vision). Please talk to several reputable Ophthalmologists for a better explanation of this in Perfectly Healthy people with Healthy Eyes and Good Eyesight. There is also a book by Dr. Nisa Khan called Understanding LED illumination that goes into detail about this Lighting Technology. What you decide to research and believe or not believe (Propaganda or actual Science), is up to YOU and YOU Alone.

[@pushkarrathod1698]

White light is actually affecting eyes more than yellow lights. On highway when you have vehicle with white light behind you, you will have more difficulty to see in side mirror and you literally feel blind when car coming with high beam during the night.

[@rogerw-interested]

if your seeing headlights from the car behind you in your side mirrors, you dont have your mirrors set up correctly

[@pushkarrathod1698]

@@rogerw-interested I meant to say when car is on your left side aka other lane.

[@DevFTW]

New Tech has auto mirror shaders just like the middle mirror in new cars also if someone's behind you with light hitting your mirrors, it's probably his car's fault since the lights are not adjusted correctly.

[@rogerw-interested]

@@DevFTW or high beams

[@josephquinto5812]

Thank god auto dimming rear video mirrors are common in new cars now. Here’s a tip: put a film of tint over all your rear mirrors, and the light from blinding cars will be dimmed.

[@Tracertme]

The matrix LED headlights are superb I have been using them daily since 2015 and wouldn’t go back to anything less. You just leave your lights on permanently it’s fully automatic in every scenario and have safety benefits 24/7 I have never been flashed by an oncoming vehicle in any road or weather condition and the visibility is immense Audi also brought out what they call laser headlights which project further.

[@pieterdeboer9905]

BMW introduces laser light technology back in 2014, it can reach up to 800 meters pretty cool right

[@richardnavratil9661]

Honestly? You really have not been flashed by oncoming traffic for blinding them? I know that automatic brights in most modern cars still leaves quite the room for improvement, so I assume Audi really has this figured out that much better? Honest question

[@KillerQueenWarThunder]

@@richardnavratil9661 Even my Opel Astra (2018) has automatic head lights with sections turning off, it works even better in Audi SQ7 (2018) hence greater amount of LEDs in the "lamp", Audi BMW Merced VW Opel Skoda etc has really good adaptive LEDs/Laser/Matrix lights. I wouldn't buy new car with out them right now

[@richardnavratil9661]

@@KillerQueenWarThunder I'm Czech (but living in the US), so I'm familiar with European models. I'm pretty sure in the US it's not approved. I didn't know VW now put it into Skodas. They've come a long way since my grandpa's 1960 Octavia.

[@KillerQueenWarThunder]

@@richardnavratil9661 Are they really banned in US? What a shame. But honestly US has fallen behind EU in some legislations that improve quality of live and tech. Even sobriety tests in US are well not so good to say it lightly. In Poland Police has mobile breath tests. We don't have to do now out dated moving tests.

[@macbook802]

Head lights must be dimmed, they’re too damn bright

[@ToddTinley]

They just need to be properly aimed as stated in the owners manual.

[@Native722]

This is the most safety feature that USA needs, and it's not allowed, what a shame.

[@paulwitmer4611]

One way to give drivers the right to know whether someone that has their beams on would be make dims or beams different colors.

[@HCG]

That would be pretty awful as a driver and from a usability perspective. The temperature of light is chosen to maximize visibility

[@andrewnicholas7410]

before we add any more features or brightness, car makers need to find out how to not blind oncoming traffic.

[@stbrian1861]

Andrew, Please check out the petitionn , Ban Blinding Headlights and Save Lives ... 22,747 signnatures and counting. Sory that I am Not able to provide you with a dirrect linnk as my posts and coments are constantly being remmoved/takken dowwn (The mispellings are also intentional to try to allude the censorrs) Thanks for your time.

[@Brian-cr6rb]

There's definitely a big issue of DOT compliance, it's not being enforced, people put these stupid different colored bulbs in, bulbs not designed for the housings, etc. Now the auto makers are guilty too. Oncoming traffic is blinding the heck out of everyone, the glare in the rear view mirrors from the guy in the Prius behind you is insane! It's only getting worse!

[@Mitaka-Asa]

The video sounds like a high school teacher on zoom.

[@TheNacropolice]

Europe: we got high beams that can dim specific areas where it sees a car coming. America: Headlight tech stopped in the 60s, so we decided to make it law that you either have high or low, not both

[@filanfyretracker]

America will have engineers building a Mars capable rocket before its automotive engineers are allowed to make similar technological leaps in lighting. To put this in simple terms the DOT code that controls all American market headlighting dates from before the moon landing.

[@walterbison]

I've been driving since the 90's and I don't care what anyone says about LED's reducing glare, the lights are far brighter and blinding these days and I hate driving at night because of it. It's like everyone has their high beams on.

[@MrKen59]

The other super dangerous issue is police and fire are cranking up the LEDs to a point that it’s makes for a safety concern. Police emergency LEDs need to have a day and night setting. Additionally some of the yellow high flashing lamps are even more dangerous in the rain as they blind other drivers.

[@lengould9262]

Recently headlights on cars have become very difficult for approaching drivers. I thought there would be standards for brightness of low beams.

[@kevin9c1]

Most european cars with HIDs have automatic beam leveling. And at least for GM cars I can say it was common to include rear load leveling with HIDs so that if you loaded up the car with stuff, your headlights weren't pointed at the sky. Also, it was very common to include headlamp washers with HIDs. Again, GM tended to do this at least on Cadillac.

[@hiyoutube8013]

It’s always a modern Lincoln that has high amount of glare

[@DanderFly]

Go to 0:24 for the cleanest image transition ever.

[@palimo3653]

😂😂

[@hotchkess846]

Proudly brought to you by Microsoft PowerPoint.

[@AMoose454]

“A lot of people forget your headlights are a safety feature” 0:07 lmao wtf?

[@rsdwall466]

I seriously wish usa vehicles have orange turn indicators. Instead of the red colour same as brake light.

[@allen2zulu]

0:12 "Half of fatalities occur at night..." Thank god for these experts, because I thought half of fatalities occurred during the day.

[@obhatti]

Yes but that is followed up shortly by the fact that only 25% of travel happens during the night. So a quarter of the total time driving relates to half of overall fatalities. Thank god you actually watched the whole video...

[@texleeger8973]

Have to admire headlights on new jacked-up F-150s, Silverados, and Rams. (Never mind gargantuan SUVs.) They aggressively blind oncoming drivers even in low beam mode. Brings a sense of satisfaction and job well done to the testosterone junkie pickup owner.

[@DavidJGillCA]

Those vehicles are a blight on the world in so many ways!

[@richardnavratil9661]

As someone that drives a low coupe, for sure this. My rearview is dimming, but not my sideview mirrors and it makes me a pain. It's not an issue on jacked up trucks. Wife has a stock used F150 and ever her LEDs blind me at night.

[@fpahsgksqjsdl]

Even Honda civic blind me at right angles

[@texasbrotherhood3930]

just get your windows tinted and it won't be an issue. well worth the cost

[@richardnavratil9661]

@@texasbrotherhood3930 Well, different states have different laws, but I'm pretty sure just about all of them make it illegal to tint front windshield. So when he's talking about oncoming traffic, tint won't really help much. Here in Ohio, $120 misdemeanor charge/ticket.

[@mrbrightside3771]

The problem with these headlight is they have life span like a bulb in a projector and once it died (hour runtime used up), you cant just switch the bulb you have to buy the entire assembly which for some car cost thousands. And you can't buy aftermarket because now your headlight needs computer to run it. Basically it can't be fixed.

[@HCG]

LEDs last tens of thousands of hours. It’s not an actual problem.

[@Watson2108]

Most modern LED´s last 50.000 hours+. If you use your car 2 hours a day, even in the worst case scenario that they were of slightly lesser quality, that would still be something like 40 years. You´re not gonna drive the same car at that point, trust me.

[@numericbin9983]

I live in Belgium where virtually all roads are lit up at night. Even with that, i can't imagine driving a car without Led lights. The adaptive led are a god send & would do wonders in the US, where you have no lights on roads outside of built-up areas, where vast spaces would be best suited to led/laser adaptive lights. Security wise, it's a must have.

[@Sim9]

The new tech is cool and all, but it seems like the real fix is just mandate a headlight glare check during the already existing vehicle inspections process. If your lo beams are blinding other drivers, it seems reasonable you should have to get them realigned or replaced.

[@ToddTinley]

My state doesn't have a vehicle inspection just emissions check.

[@stainlesssteellemming3885]

I presume you are not in the US ... not MOT or road-worthiness check here. Just a barebones emissions test

[@TopiasSalakka]

@@ToddTinley USA absolutely should have a proper vehicle inspection system...

[@beyondfossil]

@@TopiasSalakka USA should also have a "driver inspection system" in place too. Especially for head light usage. About 1 in 12 or so drivers have their high beam lights on all the time at night. It's because of a lack of driving education and possibly early onset eye disease or just aging. But if one cannot see well enough at night, one shouldn't be driving and not trying to compensate with high beams.

[@TopiasSalakka]

@@beyondfossil That's called mandatory drivers ed. Also a lot of cars have poor low beams for various reasons, yet its illegal to improve them in a lot of cases.

[@shine-on-tv8082]

Head lights on these new cars blind me every time I pass them they are so bright .

[@stbrian1861]

please look up a petition called Ban Blinding Headlights and Save Lives nearly 23k signatures !!

[@lexusfan100]

You guys used my headlight video clip at @9:45. From my Volvo S80 with headlight wipers.

[@aakeister]

I have the adaptive 16 LED headlights on my Škoda Superb, absolutely great beams.

[@lawrencefearon6830]

Headlights are so advanced now, engineers forget fo include fog lights on most cars. Unless mounted low under the bumper and aimed at the extreme corners of the road, your "high tech" head lights are meaningless in a torrential downpour at night. ⛈🚘⛈

[@chrono1975]

thats actually more of a color temperature problem, the 4200k that most OEM used was pretty good in bad weather but with the advent of LED the color temp makes it too blue to be good in inclement weather.

[@bonsai_wolverine]

People just use their white high beams in rain or fog nowadays, when regular yellow fog lamps like on old cars are what they need.

[@krane15]

I heard from one source that the matrix LEDs have supplanted the need for fog lights.

[@lawrencefearon6830]

@@krane15 except matrix headlights disqualify from function as fog lights under the SAE J583 definition of the specification. [matrix beams are defunct as fog lights by bulb centerline height]

[@PhaseSkater]

Idk I live in seattle and my white headlights are better than my old orange:yellow ones in the rain

[@ericdixon2898]

6:00 round or rectangular sealed beams were cheaper than halogen lamps.

[@SWARM_OF_GNOMES]

Headlights are a safety feature...but new LED's blind you even when correctly aimed. High end cars, or mid range, it all blinds you. This makes sense when you can drive at night on a back road and not need high beams.

[@exoticcar5482]

Not true LEDs can be made not to be blinding but many manufacturers choose not to make them like that

[@Q_QQ_Q]

yes led are canceer

[@bonsai_wolverine]

@@exoticcar5482 It shouldn't be a choice, but these companies regulate themselves, so it won't change.

[@ZsOtherBrother]

Since high tech solutions often fail, I'd like to see an option to return to manual high/low beams that will bypass the vehicle's computer via simple wiring. I'd also like to share a personal anecdote: about 25 years ago my brother created a low tech form of adaptive headlights on his T-bird. He bought a couple of cheap truck lights and connected them under the front bumper to the steering rod, to make them turn with the wheels. He adjusted the direction to the same level as the car's low beam. It worked great! It cost less than $50(US). It didn't cause night blindness in drivers of oncoming half ton machines that are moving towards you at relative speeds of up to 120 MPH. My brother's little contraption was cool, (...Audi's digital Matrix LED lights are cool too, as long as there's a manual-bypass option that doesn't rely on computers and software:)).

[@jblyon2]

In my car all you need to do is switch from Auto to On and the headlights operate manually with the same switches and relays that have been used for decades. If the automatic portion fails they still operate as standard headlights...in fact I normally run them that way, at least with the high beams. Had the thing 8 years and I still can't bring myself to trust it. Standard switch from DRL to low beams based on ambient light is fine though, and the threshold is easily configurable;

[@Rubberfoxy]

I'm becoming so tired of the low audio quality and so called "Experts" that Tune in by their 25$ Logitech Webcam and earbuds

[@hectoralejandro9883]

Shout out to the morons in the mercedes who drive around with their blinding rear fog lamp on because they think the button turns their front fog lamps on. You're a real one

[@kwagner694]

rear fog lamp? I didn't know that is a thing. thought fog lights are on the front of the vehicle.

[@Bomberboybrad]

This video was the highlight of my day

[@ChrisDied]

Half of fatalities occur at night.... you mean like half of the day?

[@ToddTinley]

The night is like half of a day but with far less commuters.

[@jordanimatedstreaming]

🤣🤣🤣 my car is from the 90's and a new Sylvania headlight bulb is cheaper than the bulbs in my ceiling fan at home 🤣🤣🤣

[@fr3shSwag]

Can't talk about headlight tech w/o mentioning Audi!

[@tolgasobac8850]

Great info. Would be better if the level of the background music was lower.

[@ChrisCameronSuccess]

Amazing report, much I did not know. However it was hard to hear some commentators over the music. I always enjoy CNBC videos. Thanks!

[@ccooper8785]

Yet another example of the stupidity of the people who demand this nonsense. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a halogen bulb. It is more than bright enough and a replacement can be bought for £/$5. They can usually be replaced simply without the need to mortgage your soul to a garage.

[@jaysmith1408]

Right? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Had one of those bendex-detroit diesel anti collision lane changey things, was an utter nuisance, so i fixed it, with a hammer. My entire headlamp assembly is $200. Housing, lens, bulb, and all. Coworker needed a new swivling automated aiming led light for his mini cooper, $1200 bucks, plus labour. Possible by no means necessary. Went into dealership looking at automobiles, dealer goes on about all this techno automated nonsense, i told him “it may have it on there now, but it’s either coming off, being disabled, or being broken, before i sign a thing”.

[@Psycandy]

France had yellow headlights, removing glare and penetrating ground fog, providing as much illumination for lower energy and protecting eyesight.. 20 years ago. Here, the glare from SUV-mounted Xenon lamps is unbearable and has led to a front-facing light arms race using pinpoint LED blue-based focused-beam light that's the most damaging to eyesight. All that, for only 50 times the price of a Tungsten Halide bulb.

[@stbrian1861]

There's a petition called Ban Blinding Headlights and Save Lives it has nearly 23k signatures

[@nxs3374]

More like 50 years ago with France and the yellow headlights… But drive in Europe and you see the difference in their Headlights , all auto manufacturers, I prefer the European way… much better less blinding and more to the point . TG more regulation coming , now to get rid of un regulated light bars on jeeps and the like that fools forget are on or are just plain old selfish

[@paulbaker7459]

It’s interesting that the article leads on vehicle manufacturers developing new headlight systems and technology when in fact it is the headlamp manufacturers that are primarily doing this.

[@paulsz6194]

What’s the name of the headlamp manufacturer? I thought it was the car manufacturer who designed the headlamp, and them collaborates with a third party to manufacture them? Kind of like an Architect and a builder relationship?

[@paulbaker7459]

@@paulsz6194 Principally the manufacturers design the overall vehicle which indeed includes the style they are seeking for both headlamps and rear lamps. Working together with a select number of lighting manufacturers the headlamp will be further developed to include specific features that each lighting company has designed/developed/invented and will meet the vehicle manufacturers requirements. Once the commercial aspects are agreed a HL manufacturer will be selected to develop tools etc and all though the process ensure all legal requirements are met for the regions the vehicle will be sold in, the process is long and both supplier and manufacturing engineers will work closely together to produce the final product. The number of HL suppliers capable of producing the technology and the production volume is relatively small although there are niche producers out there who specifically concentrate on lower volume vehicles. The larger HL manufacturers include such names as Automotive Lighting, Hella, Valeo, ZKW & Kyoto.

[@burakozdemir1756]

Thank you for trying to fix this issue by making a replacement cost and arm and a leg now.

[@jackjederstrombergman4987]

When are we getting rgb led headlights. It would be great on long road trips as you can watch a movie when you are tailgating a semi

[@Q_QQ_Q]

hate led lights

[@TheBikemaster94]

Ooh ☺️

[@cerisem7727]

Why? It's practically illegal, you can't use blue, red, green, or amber lights because they can be mistaken for emergency vehicles. As for all other colors, there are laws prohibiting lights from being driven on roads (depending on state), usually being exclusive to off road use only. There is internal RGB lights, which has been used since roughly 2015 by luxury auto makers.

[@jackjederstrombergman4987]

@@cerisem7727 Woosh...

[@asturiasra]

Very safe. Thats why Im blinded by the new lights and I have great night vision. Imagine the other folks. 😂😂😂😂🤦🏼‍♂️

[@peterveto]

And have they backed up the safety claim in the video with anything? Pedestrian safety has actually declined since "bluer" headlights took over. As J Bullough says in the video, there is theoretically some peripheral advantage. The few studies on it have mixed results and questionable relevance to real life - while in ALL other aspects, bluer headlights are demonstrably worse perceptually. But hey, they are cool.

[@jacksonm.6549]

Something random I learned years ago was how manufacturers tweak and change headlights based on the intended market. As in, for right hand drive markets, the right headlight is brighter and shines in a wider angle because you're trying to limit glare. So the left hand headlights don't shine as wide or far. This is for non-fancy normal headlights. For left hand drive markets like the UK and most commonwealth countries, it's the left hand headlights that shine wider and farther. So that oncoming vehicles from the right don't get blinded. I noticed this on my own car at the time. We drive on the left and my left hand headlight shone farther and wider (covered more of the left lane). My right hand headlight seemed to align with the marks on the road and did not shine onto oncoming vehicles.

[@j.trulyrandom]

Regulations are, as usual, years behind innovation

[@natesmith8020]

Totally skipped over projector lenses, which allowed for ultra sharp cut offs, and zero glare. They are also the reason why people think xenon headlights (HID's) are "blue." The light that they emit is a pure white. But The area of light right at the cutoff which is what will bounce and hit and oncoming person's eye has a sharp line of deep blue or purple because of the way light bends. This can be even more annoying and present when the lights are aimed higher than they should be.

[@1mlb704]

I was just going to comment about them skipping over projector lenses. I find it strange that automakers have offered them on vehicles with halogen headlights. Projector beams actually don't put out quite as much light as a reflective lense. I always thought the point of a projector lenses was for HID bulbs because they're so bright they need that accurate beam and upper cutoff line.

[@descentplayer]

There is no such thing as pure white. White light is not a particular frequency, it is a combination of a spectrum of frequencies. White light is characterized by the color temperature. I think by pure, you mean that the color temperature more closely matches that of the sun. Also, projector lamps can also use LEDs as their light source, which are normal chosen to have a more blueish white similar to Xenon HID.

[@rangerover06sc]

HID lights can definitely be more blue especially ones that are 6000k or higher

[@toyotabrony]

@@descentplayerthere’s always a thing as pure white. Two most common color temperatures is one think 5000k/5500k is pure white or 6000k is pure white. It’s always such a thing.

[@toyotabrony]

@@rangerover06scnot always. When it comes to HID, u get a lot more color options than LED.

[@auro1986]

with your advanced ai computers with night vision, radar, and, infra red sights, why do cars need headlights ?

[@Ilovecruise]

Cost, it’s all about cost

[@MadmaxMusic93]

my 22 model 3 has matrix leds there are quite amazing!! 👌🏼

[@klimankhmeron7636]

Consumers: can you make the headlights better? Manufacturer: of course, it's 20% of the car cost please, pay at the register.

[@RIPdBOON]

All I know is headlights have become too bright! What's the point if you blind opposing traffic? Safety issue!

[@stbrian1861]

There's a petition against these kind of headlights. Please look it up as they keep taking down my posts.

[@peterveto]

Very well said! Also, it is possible to have greater road illumination, as with modern headlights, but less glare - but since there is no business in that the trend is in a different direction.

[@donaldmark177]

Nice video trends!!! Very engaging from beginning to end. Thanks there for the info. Nevertheless business and Investment are the easiest means to create money and live the comfortable life you've thought of. Now!! I'm at the conclusion: to start my own company with $800k next mnth.

[@marcusalonso1010]

You're right Man 🦾💪

[@ameliacharlotte5044]

Hello!! My name is Teresa, I'm 25 year old Portuguese and still living in Portugal. At the moment I'm studying more than working, I don't have much money to invest but I'll try start this month. I want to be financially independent at least 30.

[@yangliu8532]

Yeah! Investments are stepping stone to success. I remember quiting gambling and investing in Gold, Bitcoin and Tesla stock with $100k I won from lottery betting back in 2017. For now I'm okay with the $30,000 profit I earn every month from bitcoin investment than being a crazy CEO that earns half of my dividend.

[@Denise-rs5qf]

I realized "that the secret to make a million dollar is through rational business ideas and investment. And as from that point I constantly remind myself that "I don't need the luxurious lifestyle if I haven't yet started investing... . Last year (during the covid 19 pandemic) I invested $70k in blue Chip stocks and Crypto (bitcoin), the stock market is really good but actually it seems, the bitcoin investment is more profitable

[@charlottenc1074]

@Pretty England everyone needs more than their salary to be financially stable. The best thing to do with your money is investing it rightly cause money left for saving always finish without bringing dividend or adding nothing to your portfolio.

[@changye9604]

That projection tech sounds really dope

[@penitent2401]

The thing with adaptive LED lights is you need to get within certain distance for the camera to pick out things then it takes an extra second to figure out they are pointing at a person or car and dims, in that time you have flashed blinded the other person. Some drivers (looking at you BMWs), just leave them on high beam and let the system deal with it even in heavy traffic, then the thing spaz out while blinding everyone.

[@jimurrata6785]

Ummm. "calcium chloride" is ice melter Calcium *_CARBIDE_* creates acetylene gas for lamps and welding in the bush.

[@guessua4]

New mic or sound processor would help in this video

[@cloudk2088]

The biggest issue isn't OEM LED lighting, its people putting aftermarket lighting in housings not designed for LEDs, or replacing headlights and never re-aiming to account for the change in the headlight type. Biggest offenders are those who mod their cars from my experience. Another thing people do these days too, is stare directly at the light like a deer in headlights...just look off to the side a little its not rocket science. All that said, our Government again dropping a ball on making changes when needed. This headlight technology has been around for awhile, and they have never updated any standards or guidelines for automotive lighting.

[@Sacto1654]

It used to be in the USA, you could only use sealed-beam round headlights. The legalization of flush-mount headlamp housings in 1983 made it a lot more viable to improve headlamp design, first by going to H4/H11 halogen bulbs, then to xenon bulbs in the late 1990's, and finally to LED bulbs since around 2007.

[@TizBaz5]

Please turn the music down and boost the vocals. It's quite hard to follow anything the guy is saying. It sounds like hold music with random spoken word sound effects.

[@jeffsyphus]

The audio quality is much lower than usual for your videos. Still great content though👍

[@metamorphiczeolite]

Interesting! Thanks.

[@hermanrogers1325]

What is needed in cars are code reader and scanners so when the check engine light comes on you can press a button and it will tell you exactly what is wrong with the car and then you can take it to the dealership so they can fix it

[@adrianus13]

the audio for this is awful

[@krane15]

Watch the video closely. The content is a collection of online submissions. There's no way they're all going to match.

[@matthewbanta3240]

Sometimes I miss sealed beam headlights. Back then, there were only 4 choices that automakers had when it came to headlights (2 beams or 4 and square lenses or round.) So when your light went out, you immediately could tell which part you needed to replace it. Also since the lens, mirror, and bulb were all one part, when you replaced the bulb you also replaced all three of those. There was no such thing as a headlight lens getting cloudy as it aged. And if your lens cracked or hit a rock and broke then all you had to do is replace the bulb and you ended up replacing the lens with it. It really made life easier.

[@ChrisCameronSuccess]

Yes, I don't like foggy lenses, but I love the wide, even pattern like stadium lights. The old ones were just two pools of light.

[@dozaarchives2225]

They were junk!

[@HCG]

Trash headlights with trash visibility. Literally a candle versus a modern Cree flashlight.

[@PU8698]

Same, the yellow color to the light was much better too!

[@junyaiwase]

Alright grandpa get back to bed

[@emperornephew6487]

Lemme lay down to you a case. I was behind a good new e class, one strip of red light was broken/not turning on. What about this super high tech? Can you fix it? Or do you buy a big compartment just for a led strip?

[@CalebOliver]

Great History Lesson!

[@h_3_x_]

BRING BACK THE POP UPS!!!!

[@RiseUp_Again]

LED High beam Blue Light literally Blinds the Drivers of coming vehicles. Its the worst light source

[@realcreamofwheat7728]

Regulators should figure out a way to revoke licenses to those who drive with the high beams. That would be progress.

[@KaiPonte]

Great video! Interesting to read. I wondered what happened to Xenon headlights. As someone who drives both a 2022 and a 1999 car, I see the difference. I purchased LED bulbs for my 1999 Lexus only because I have a housing which directs the beams and I am not blinding oncoming drivers. Cannot imagine what it must be like on roadways without external lighting.

[@manjeetgodara2225]

He said about half of fatalities happen at night or in low light conditions, soo the other half happens at good visibility conditions? Do the lighting conditions even affect accidents?

[@asimpleguy2730]

Well if you consider that tipically less cars are on the road at night, probably the number of fatalities per number of car is higher

[@enriquemercedes9519]

Is the difference in height of headlights on SUV and sedans part of the reason why sedans could have darker window tints than SUVs?

[@DavidJGillCA]

tints on what?

[@enriquemercedes9519]

@@DavidJGillCA window tints

[@bonsai_wolverine]

If these new blinding headlights remain unregulated we might start needing tinted windshields on sedans just to be able to drive at night.

[@krane15]

@@bonsai_wolverine No state allow tinted windscreens, and the "new" headlight aren't blinding.

[@pao44445]

Scotty be like, "these headlights are money pit"

[@5thgen418]

I have not traveled more than 2 countries in the world but the United Arab Emirates roads all have lights even the most lesser used roads have lights on them excellent