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Why is everyone flashing their brights at me?!?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by chicagoprius23, Dec 18, 2016.

  1. chicagoprius23

    chicagoprius23 New Member

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    I just bought a 2016 Prius 3 I believe. It's the standard size prius not the C or the wagon. When I drive home from work after 5pm and it's dark, I'm getting flashed from the oncoming lane constantly. First I thought I was being warned about speed traps, as I've done this on occasion. But it's clearly something bothering people about my headlights..what's going on with my prius? And no my brights are not on. But it seems people think so. Is this normal?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #1 chicagoprius23, Dec 18, 2016
  2. Sooner Al

    Sooner Al Active Member

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    #2 Sooner Al, Dec 18, 2016
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    #3 xliderider, Dec 18, 2016
  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Some folks simply find the color & brightness of newer bulbs to be too offensive. Oh well.
    And welcome!
    .
     
    #4 hill, Dec 18, 2016
  5. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Welcome!

    Some people have found that their 2016 Prius had the lights aims a little high.
    We know that the IIHS rated the 2016 Prius headlights as poor, partially due to glare.
    The 2017 Prius, though rates ad adequate. There have been some guesses about what changes were made. Perhaps the lights themselves were changed since somebody found indications of new -art numbers for Gen 4 headlights.
    See the link in Post 2 here.
     
    #5 Prodigyplace, Dec 18, 2016
  6. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    The colors have been around for years now so I don't think that's it.

    I have an issue locally with new trucks that come "lifted" from the dealership with an off-road package. The LED headlights are now feet, not a few inches, higher than their design height throwing their light pattern way off. Add in that they think it's cool to run matching LED fogs all the time and they are extremely offensive. :mad:
     
    #6 fotomoto, Dec 18, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2016
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  7. chicagoprius23

    chicagoprius23 New Member

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    Thanks everyone! I appreciate the quick response and useful info. I guess it's just something that I have to deal with for now. I'll talk to my dealer at my first service and see if they can help somehow. Other than this problem I absolutely love love love my new Prius. In 2005 I was an Internet sales manager for Toyota and fell in love with the Prius. At the time I was way too into muscle cars to own one. Now that I'm older and wiser I'm glad I made the switch. Plus I feel like I'm repenting for my years of V8 mustangs lol.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #7 chicagoprius23, Dec 18, 2016
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats and welcome! all the best.(y)
     
    #8 bisco, Dec 18, 2016
  9. andusee

    andusee Junior Member

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    A cop gave me a $50 ticket saying my 2016 C had HID lights. Tried to explain it actually have LEDs but he wouldn't care. Had to go do the revision process and the judge ruled in my favor, told the cop to be aware of newer technologies...

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #9 andusee, Dec 19, 2016
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  10. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Are HID headlights banned where you live? Where in the US does that & why?
    I had not heard of that before.
     
    #10 Prodigyplace, Dec 19, 2016
  11. andusee

    andusee Junior Member

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    Yep, illegal and $50 every time a cop decides to pull you over... Puerto Rico, they also limit your window tints...

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #11 andusee, Dec 19, 2016
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  12. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

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    I haven't found the exact law, but googling around, apparently Road Law # 22 article 14.05d is what bans it... but only if the car didn't come with it.
     
    #12 bhtooefr, Dec 19, 2016
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    How do they know what are factory headlights? Many cars came with HID.
     
    #13 Prodigyplace, Dec 19, 2016
  14. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

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    OK, found this:

    That... almost sounds like an interpretation of a law meant to prohibit use of high beams on a lighted road, being applied to HIDs instead.
     
    #14 bhtooefr, Dec 19, 2016
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  15. Neohybrid

    Neohybrid Not-so-junior member

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    Our 2012 (5) has LED headlamps (low beam) and the configuration is two lamps on each side. Despite the fact that the lamps are adjusted correctly some approaching vehicles see the "four" beams and think that we are running with our high beams on. The high beams are definitely much brighter and shine much higher than the low beam LEDs.

    At times I turn the (worthless) fog lights on to let drivers know that I'm running with low beams as most fog lights are on only when low beams are being used.
     
    #15 Neohybrid, Dec 19, 2016
  16. andusee

    andusee Junior Member

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    To be honest, I think the cop was dozing off as it was like 0100hrs on a Thursday night (right after the Metallica concert) probably woke him up as I was going uphill and he didn't like it so... Here's your ticket for waking me up! Anyway, judge ruled in my favor so I'll be ready next time I encounter another misinformed officer of the law.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #16 andusee, Dec 19, 2016
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