The Details on Super Bright Headlights

Have you ever been blinded by an oncoming vehicle and questioned the legality of super-bright headlights? If so, this article is for you. Here we discuss why some headlights seem so incredibly bright, and what the legality is surrounding the situation.

What’s the Deal With Super-Bring Headlights?

We don’t want to break your heart, but law enforcement lacks the resources to verify whether each set of questionable headlights meets local standards. Those blueish high-intensity headlights might make you see red, but the lights themselves might not be illegal, they probably just need some re-positioning.

“We had the exact same arguments about blinding headlights when the halogen lights came out years ago, after the old bulbs where you could barely see down the highway,” says Raynald Marchand, GM of programs at the Canada Safety Council. “If lights are blinding, it’s because they’re improperly aimed or the vehicle is heavily loaded.”

It seems that glaring headlights are often caused by an alignment issue. We see a lot of trucks with big loads and a lot of weight in the back that are throwing off the alignment of the lights, causing excessive shine on the vehicles ahead.

The blueish light typically comes from gaseous discharge light sources (GDLS), where an electric charge passes through an ionized gas, usually xenon. They’re called High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights, and HID lights are definitely legal in Canada.

The issues lie in the aftermarket sector. Regulated by the provinces and the territories, The Highway Traffic Act says headlights must be installed, aligned, and maintained properly so as not to cause glare, or dazzle oncoming drivers. Improper installation and maintenance of headlights can result in a fine of $110.00.

You’re not alone in your perception that oncoming lights are distracting, especially on newer vehicles, but lights aren’t necessarily brighter than they used to be. “Headlights aren’t really becoming brighter because standards limit the amount of light from all headlights at the same levels,” says Michael Flannagan, an associate professor at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute. “But blue-white colours do seem to give people more of an impression of glare – misaimed, dirty, and hazed headlights can also contribute to glare.”

Some “blue” headlights are just common halogen bulbs with a blue film, while others are a completely different type of technology. HID lights are complex, and comprised of high current capacitors, transistors, and resistors. What this means for the consumer, is there are more considerations than simply swapping out your standard halogen headlight for an HID. Halogens produce a yellow-tint light in the 3,000 Kelvin range, HID lights have a higher colour temperature with a blueish tint in the 5,000-6,000 range making a significant difference in the light emissions of the vehicle.

Anyone considering aftermarket bulbs should become familiar with local laws before buying anything other than a stock replacement headlight bulb, as some aftermarket bulbs may not meet provincial or state regulations. Some aftermarket bulbs may be brighter and more powerful, but the light they cast is considered “uncontrolled” light and consequently, illegal.

As with any automotive questions you may have, never hesitate to reach out to us. We’re always happy to help you out and discuss any vehicular questions you may have.