Thread: LED Headlight
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Old 01-16-2009, 09:47 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IheartGeos View Post
I'm sorry, but why exactly are these not DOT approved? Does DOT require non-LED lights? That sounds rather odd to me, that they would have a requirement as to the specific bulb type. Or perhaps it is something else?
It comes down to lighting pattern and intensity. There is nearly 100 years of research behind lighting patterns and how they interact with the human eye. The reflectors and fluting you see in the headlamp of your car or motorcycle was designed by teams of engineers and tested rigorously to make sure it meets code for the country it's being used in. They use machines that measure very accurately how much light is going where, this allows a pattern that allows you to see in nearly all situations without blinding on-coming traffic.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

The link above is about those silly HID kits people put in their cars, but it goes into what makes a light legal/illegal. The links and PDF's will help you understand more about what regulatory bodies are looking for.
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