Hacker News Reader

In most countries there is a mandatory periodic technical examination for motor vehicles (like MOT, TÜV, etc) where lights are tested for exactly this reason.

Also, I don't think people tilt their headlamps up on purpose.

View on HN

What typically happens around me seems to be that someone installs aftermarket headlights — often obnoxiously bright — and then fail to actually adjust them correctly. And we (in this American state) don’t have those types of safety inspections.

Or they just drive around with their high beams on all the time. That happens, too.

I know a guy who does this. Was a passenger in his truck at night and pretty quickly noticed he was blinding everyone. "Dude, you have your high beams on!" "Yea, they're brighter so I can see better." "You're supposed to turn them to low when other cars are coming." He looked at me like I had antlers growing out of my head. It never occurred to him to give even a single shit about everyone else on the road. Total "Main Character" syndrome.

Two of my friends rode motorcycles and did this on purpose because “it’s more annoying so people see me coming” and I’ve never been able to convince them it’s dangerous because you’re basically blinding people…

Edit: also in the Netherlands there is no periodic technical check required for motorcycles

Reply on news.ycombinator.com