Here's Why Modern Headlights Are Extremely Frustrating

Here's Why Modern Headlights Are Extremely Frustrating

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      Driving at night is increasingly challenging these days. It's worse than it used to be, especially since the arrival of LED headlights, which have become so affordable that aftermarket companies are producing them en masse, often disregarding quality and regulations. With the prevalence of lifted trucks, many drivers can likely relate to being blinded by oncoming headlights at some point. And it’s deteriorating!

      One of our recent videos on The Drive’s YouTube channel details how we reached this point, and here’s a hint: it took quite a while and involved failures at many levels. Regulators initially restricted technology, especially in the U.S., and when they finally allowed new developments, they failed to address the possible downsides. A drive in Europe will show you how much improved night driving can be with modern adaptive headlight beams.

      Over here, new cars are brighter than ever, and the aftermarket industry remains dissatisfied with standard equipment. They often make them even brighter by adding LED modules, resulting in beams that illuminate areas far beyond the road.

      The angle at which headlights are aimed is another important factor in blinding other drivers, and frankly, many companies producing these aftermarket housings don't care if they worsen the situation for everyone, as long as consumers are hitting "Add to Cart" for lights promising a billion lumens. It’s a complicated situation.

      That’s where we currently find ourselves, and I must quickly mention that if you are sensitive to light, the reality can be even more difficult. For a comprehensive understanding of the issue, watch the video—you might pick up some new insights. I find overly bright lights frustrating all the time, and even I learned something.

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GM Secretly Advised Suppliers to Eliminate Chinese Components, and Now the Issues Arise | Carscoops GM Secretly Advised Suppliers to Eliminate Chinese Components, and Now the Issues Arise | Carscoops Trade conflicts between China and the United States have compelled GM to make adjustments to its supply chain. The latest in car news and reviews, no nonsense Our free daily newsletter brings you the most important stories straight to your inbox every weekday. In October, the announcement of Assetto Corsa Rally thrilled rally racing enthusiasts. It came unexpectedly and at a timely moment, coinciding with the end of Codemasters’ long-running series of rally games dating back to Colin McRae. However, Assetto Corsa Rally differs from those titles and is designed for a distinct audience. While Dirt Rally was known for its challenging gameplay, ACR aims for an even harsher level of realism. If that sounds appealing, you can experience it today, as it has just launched on Steam Early Access at a limited-time price of $24. The publisher 505 Games provided The Drive with a review code, and I’ve spent the last few days familiarizing myself with it. At launch, ACR features 10 vehicles from the early ’70s up to the present, representing various drivetrain types. There are four complete stages set in Rally Alsace and Wales, which can also be divided into smaller segments if desired. Most importantly, these stages consist of real-life dirt and tarmac that have been laser-scanned for the game. According to developer Supernova Games Studios, this is a first in the genre. Speaking of Supernova, while ACR builds on the physics technology created by Kunoz Simulazioni for Assetto Corsa Evo, the team has utilized Unreal Engine 5 for its graphics. This raised concerns initially, as gamers familiar with the early days of EA Sports WRC can attest to the significant shader stutters in that title, which severely interrupted gameplay, especially at the start of stages. Fortunately, I’m happy to report that ACR not only looks much better than WRC at this early stage, but it also performs better. Driving that classic Alfa GTA Junior is a real pleasure once you master it! Plus, it’s beautiful. 505 Games I did experience a few minor stutters early on, but they were so negligible that they didn’t disrupt my gameplay and disappeared quickly. My setup—AMD Radeon RX 9070 GPU paired with a Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU—handled the game mostly at high settings, with some features like effects and foliage set to ultra at a 1440p resolution. This resulted in a frame rate fluctuating between the high 60s and low 80s, which is quite good for a UE5 game, especially one that looks this impressive on mid-range hardware. There are moments in this game that are truly breathtaking. I recommend utilizing the dynamic time of day feature in a custom rally and increasing the speed to 60x, aptly labeled “Unrealistic.” Witness the sunrise in Wales against a wet track, as sunlight filters through the trees, illuminating the pines with a morning glow and reflecting off puddles. This game is visually stunning, as all rally titles should be, embodying the beauty of nature as you race through it on the edge of control. It’s difficult to divert your gaze from the action in front of you. Navigating this game can be quite challenging because, in terms of handling, it is the most demanding rally sim I’ve played in quite a while. I used a controller, which the game supports, but Supernova advises against it. This makes sense, as Assetto Corsa has always focused on an authentic wheel-and-pedals experience. However, ACR is still quite playable with a pad, and I’d argue it feels more natural on a controller than Evo or any other game in this franchise. 505 Games Caution is essential, though. If you're accustomed to Codemasters' titles, the first thing you’ll notice is the reduced grip level. It’s advisable to test its limits using a low-powered front-wheel-drive hatchback first, like the Peugeot or Hyundai junior-class cars, which exhibit heavy understeer, before advancing to a high-end WRC machine or, heaven forbid, the rear-wheel-drive beasts of 40 or 50 years ago. Mastering trail braking is crucial, as steering while braking doesn’t work in this game. Going off the track—even by just a tire or two—can be disastrous. Not only will you find zero traction, but the ruts and dips require you to pay close attention when your co-driver warns, “keep outside.” I recall overlooking that advice once, hitting a deep rut with my right front tire, and then cartwheeling into the woods. You can’t simply yank the handbrake mid-hairpin and expect it to work either. Again, if you’re used to more forgiving rally games, you’ll likely spin out often in ACR. Braking distances are also significantly longer than you might anticipate. Nevertheless, the result of getting everything right is incredibly satisfying. Grip won’t save you from precarious situations in this game, making it essential to The latest in car news and reviews, no nonsense Our free daily newsletter brings you the most important stories straight to your inbox every weekday. In October, the announcement of Assetto Corsa Rally thrilled rally racing enthusiasts. It came unexpectedly and at a timely moment, coinciding with the end of Codemasters’ long-running series of rally games dating back to Colin McRae. However, Assetto Corsa Rally differs from those titles and is designed for a distinct audience. While Dirt Rally was known for its challenging gameplay, ACR aims for an even harsher level of realism. If that sounds appealing, you can experience it today, as it has just launched on Steam Early Access at a limited-time price of $24. The publisher 505 Games provided The Drive with a review code, and I’ve spent the last few days familiarizing myself with it. At launch, ACR features 10 vehicles from the early ’70s up to the present, representing various drivetrain types. There are four complete stages set in Rally Alsace and Wales, which can also be divided into smaller segments if desired. Most importantly, these stages consist of real-life dirt and tarmac that have been laser-scanned for the game. According to developer Supernova Games Studios, this is a first in the genre. Speaking of Supernova, while ACR builds on the physics technology created by Kunoz Simulazioni for Assetto Corsa Evo, the team has utilized Unreal Engine 5 for its graphics. This raised concerns initially, as gamers familiar with the early days of EA Sports WRC can attest to the significant shader stutters in that title, which severely interrupted gameplay, especially at the start of stages. Fortunately, I’m happy to report that ACR not only looks much better than WRC at this early stage, but it also performs better. Driving that classic Alfa GTA Junior is a real pleasure once you master it! Plus, it’s beautiful. 505 Games I did experience a few minor stutters early on, but they were so negligible that they didn’t disrupt my gameplay and disappeared quickly. My setup—AMD Radeon RX 9070 GPU paired with a Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU—handled the game mostly at high settings, with some features like effects and foliage set to ultra at a 1440p resolution. This resulted in a frame rate fluctuating between the high 60s and low 80s, which is quite good for a UE5 game, especially one that looks this impressive on mid-range hardware. There are moments in this game that are truly breathtaking. I recommend utilizing the dynamic time of day feature in a custom rally and increasing the speed to 60x, aptly labeled “Unrealistic.” Witness the sunrise in Wales against a wet track, as sunlight filters through the trees, illuminating the pines with a morning glow and reflecting off puddles. This game is visually stunning, as all rally titles should be, embodying the beauty of nature as you race through it on the edge of control. It’s difficult to divert your gaze from the action in front of you. Navigating this game can be quite challenging because, in terms of handling, it is the most demanding rally sim I’ve played in quite a while. I used a controller, which the game supports, but Supernova advises against it. This makes sense, as Assetto Corsa has always focused on an authentic wheel-and-pedals experience. However, ACR is still quite playable with a pad, and I’d argue it feels more natural on a controller than Evo or any other game in this franchise. 505 Games Caution is essential, though. If you're accustomed to Codemasters' titles, the first thing you’ll notice is the reduced grip level. It’s advisable to test its limits using a low-powered front-wheel-drive hatchback first, like the Peugeot or Hyundai junior-class cars, which exhibit heavy understeer, before advancing to a high-end WRC machine or, heaven forbid, the rear-wheel-drive beasts of 40 or 50 years ago. Mastering trail braking is crucial, as steering while braking doesn’t work in this game. Going off the track—even by just a tire or two—can be disastrous. Not only will you find zero traction, but the ruts and dips require you to pay close attention when your co-driver warns, “keep outside.” I recall overlooking that advice once, hitting a deep rut with my right front tire, and then cartwheeling into the woods. You can’t simply yank the handbrake mid-hairpin and expect it to work either. Again, if you’re used to more forgiving rally games, you’ll likely spin out often in ACR. Braking distances are also significantly longer than you might anticipate. Nevertheless, the result of getting everything right is incredibly satisfying. Grip won’t save you from precarious situations in this game, making it essential to BMW is unconcerned about the engine that drives its SUVs; it will launch a version featuring a sporty roofline and a premium price tag. 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Here's Why Modern Headlights Are Extremely Frustrating

This video discusses the reasons behind the extreme brightness of headlights today and the intricate history that led to this situation.