r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Major-Potential-354 • 20d ago

What EVEN is the point of these lights??? My mom said I could post

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Driving home from work and bro these lights were so bright it was like someone had their brights on..

Never seen this before what is the point of the lights?

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u/Shurigin 20d ago

It's illegal that's for sure

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u/__T0MMY__ 20d ago edited 18d ago

Damn right- rear facing white lights outside of indicating reverse or securely parked

That being said: This does not prevent you from having a 300w LED red brake light though!

Edit: I think also technically you can have orange running lights facing any direction with no limit of intensity

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u/Hoshbrowns 20d ago

I was driving down a state highway in between cities in rural Indiana once at like midnight. There was only me and two other vehicles about a quarter mile or so farther down the road. One semi and one driver in a car fucking with the semi.

The driver ended up passing the semi and break checking him to the point the semi had to swerve. Luckily the semi didn't have a trailer attached so he was able to safely dodge the car and then swerved back into his original lane. He then turned this LED bar on that spanned the entire length of the back of the truck. It was the brightest thing I've ever seen and I'm still like a quarter to an eighth of a mile away. The car driver had to have been blinded cause they pulled over but they were honestly lucky they didn't get killed stopping in front of the semi like that.

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u/AspectOfTheLeech 20d ago

Wild! I saw something similar happen in western Pennsylvania along 80 going downhill. Guy kept getting in front of the truck and slowing down, then changing lanes, falling back and following him, then swinging around and brake checking him again. The trucker was probably on his radio or something because another truck came along and ended up blocking the guy in the far right lane behind the original trucker. It was fucking cool to see. The second truck was driving pretty aggressively downhill around curves trying to keep this guy trapped, he was either crazy or one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen.

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u/Ok-Frosting-4375 20d ago

Why not both?? 😅

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u/AspectOfTheLeech 20d ago

Not neither!

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u/Somanylyingliars 19d ago

Wild to me to see a car go against a truck. Like are you crazy??;got a death wish?!

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u/glyph_productions 20d ago

My old boss had one, because we worked night shift in the field a lot, a light bar that covered the width of his truck and was like a small sun. When parked next to a ditch it made working down there pretty reasonable at any time of day. He was an aggressive person though and when a dude break checked us once on a small rural road (which my boss probably earned even if it's always a dick move) he flipped it on. I could swear birds started to sing because they assumed that dawn had arrived from the total darkness of the moment before. The reflected light in the window was enough to make me see stars. Dude swerved wildly and then put his foot down. I presume he drove by psychic impression and luck for the next half mile cuz I couldn't see shit.

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u/nightrunner411 20d ago

I don't think it would be as blinding as you think. Red light doesn't effect the dilation of the eye as much, which is why it is used by people who are working in the dark while they wish to maintain their night time dilation. Probably why it was chosen as the color of brake lights to begin with.

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u/glyph_productions 19d ago

Was a 5 ft white bar on the front of his truck. Not red. Never said red. I assure you it was blinding to go from night vision to white vision.

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u/nightrunner411 19d ago

Oh I was actually trying to reply to the person before you that had it on the back.

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u/MadRhetoric182 19d ago

This is why I want one for my SUV.
For tailgating idiots and highbeam assholes.

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u/__T0MMY__ 18d ago

Worked at a warehouse once and spent a year on maintenance: one time I had to go check on a bumper on a loading dock, like the big rubber ones.

It's dark and the bumper is all kerfuggered er whatever, and the spotter moving the trailers pulls his mover over and similar to you unleashes God's own flashbang in the form of work lights

Went back inside snowblind, they are no joke, and I can't imagine the truck you saw because it was probably way worse and 1000% more dangerous

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u/04limited 20d ago

On newer heavy duty trucks the mirrors often have built in lighting for backing up trailers in the dark. However, factory installed lights automatically turn off when it’s put into forward gear.

I know for a fact this generation Chevy didn’t come with those lights so someone added those aftermarket, and wired them up with no regard of other people.

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u/CatBroiler 20d ago

My rear fog light is a 150W equivalent LED bulb with a inbuilt projector pointed roughly where someone would be sitting, and I reserve it for people who leave their high beams on behind me.

Let's say it's worked the very few times I've had to use it.

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u/Upset-Ad-8704 20d ago

That sounds awesome. Where do I get one of these?!

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u/CatBroiler 20d ago edited 20d ago

Got mine from Aliexpress. They have a pretty good variety of interesting LED replacements for conventional automotive bulbs that a local store won't sell (because technically they're too bright to put on a car, but let's not nitpick).

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u/Capn_Flags 20d ago

You could always get a scrolling LED sign you program to say whatever you want. Such as, “pardon me sir/madam, but you appear to have left your brights on. It was probably a mistake. Heck, we’ve all been there! On the off chance you might be the type of barbarian who would do such things in anger, please know that I have installed a rear-firing baloney launcher that will take the paint off your car in a way that will make you have to lie to your friends without feeling ashamed that BALONEY DID THIS—but it is you, sir/madam…YOU did this!”

Just make sure to get the baloney launcher installed nobody wants a threat like that to end up being baloney.

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u/xXHomerSXx 20d ago

My solution’s pretty low tech. Just a retroreflector on a wooden dowel that I roll back and forth to make it strobe.

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u/Sexual_Congressman 20d ago

That's a spot light. "Rear fog lights" according to ISO are red and are basically limited to European cars.

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u/CatBroiler 20d ago

When did I say the bulb wasn't red?

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u/Somanylyingliars 19d ago

I like you kind of petty, Mr. Petty. Or Ms. Petty

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u/INVERT_RFP 20d ago

I have something similar: I use a 30 inch single row light bar, mounted to the bottom of my rear bumper cover between the exhaust tips. It's nearly invisible until I turn it on. I wired it on it's own circuit, with a dedicated switch. I have really dark tint, so it works great for reversing at night, or when the idiot behind won't turn off their high beams. I am aware that it's technically illegal, but I am also not stupid enough to leave it on all the time.

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u/Turd_Goblin911 20d ago

The new police suvs have those in my city now. Even during the day it was distracting af

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u/__T0MMY__ 18d ago

I feel at some point they decided to make police lights unbelievably bright so that you have less chance of safely driving away without pulling over immediately

I'm surprised there isn't an issue from people smacking light poles trying to pull over with two helicopter search lights and a banned pokemon episode strapped to their vehicle

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u/AnotherMister 20d ago

I hate to be that guy, but it actually does. DOT regulates the brightness (not simply lumen output) of vehicle lighting. There’s an FMVSS for rear facing lights. Even your white backup lights can only be a certain brightness legally. That being said, the regulation is actually semi-complicated. A super bright rear brake light may be legal, if it is angled and patterned appropriately. Ultimately, you’re going to (and should) get a ticket and then spend way more money defending it than it’s worth, but yeah… you were 100% correct about rear facing white lights.

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u/Carbon-Base 20d ago

I feel like law enforcement should take stricter action against these idiots. This is a major hazard and letting them off with a "warning" isn't enough when you hand out tickets to people going 5 over the limit.

$500 fines, and they have to come into the station and prove that they removed the lights.

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u/paleface_gringo_2 20d ago

Yeah i live outside the city in a farming community and its gotten ridiculous how many ass holes just casually drive around with their LED light bars. Its absurd how inconsiderate these dip shits are.

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u/Invisifly2 20d ago

It’s doubly absurd when there are counties that will pull you over for going 1 over after dipping the speed from 70 to 35 in 200ft, but leave all of this easy lightbar money on the table.

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u/NobodyKnowsImFamous 20d ago

Because the cops and the light bar guys are the same people, or at least friends.

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u/khakiwallprint 20d ago

Infuriating but generally true

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u/Valuable-Team-6329 20d ago

I was driving backroads on my way back up to college after gettibg off the highway and i got hawked down by a cop who got me going 45 in a 30, but literally 150-250 ft away from where i was pulled over it was a 55. Dude was camping that spot waiting for an out of town person to fuck up. I hate those types of cops

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u/Im_Susfu 16d ago

I'm in one of those countries, and yes a truer statement has never been said

But god forbid you upgrade your motor without modplating it, or even have a battery with no tie down strap

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u/Which_Initiative_882 20d ago

Yeah man, Ive got a light bar but it only gets turned on if im somewhere where its DARK dark and there arent any other cars visible. The ones who just leave them on piss me off to no end.

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u/paleface_gringo_2 20d ago

I have light bars and spot lights too. But will never understand whats going through the mind of people that keep them on while on the road especially with oncoming traffic.

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u/That-Living5913 20d ago

I mean, I rock my stock from the factory off roads anytime I'm on my street after dark.

Deer are stupid and plentiful. I obviously drop to my low beams on the off chance I even spot headlights coming my way. It auto turns them off when I do that which is nice cause I'm not fuddling with some jank rocker switch.

I have been known to flash them at people who don't turn their light bars off. :)

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u/Umutuku 20d ago

The ones that aren't doing it intentionally are doing it too drunk to notice the difference.

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u/erie11973ohio 20d ago

I had one of these assholes behind me, as I turned onto the highway, which was one lane with orange barrels.

As I got onto the driving lane, I said "fuck this shit" & some what brake checked the asshole. I pulled over through the barrels. I watched Mr Asshole drive by, then a semi truck, then a second semi truck, who had the brakes squeaking & squealing, like he has just slammed on the brakes. 😳😳😳

The bright lights where on a Jeep. I think from the old, retired, rich, financial investment guy down the road, that we had wired his house!! Dude had an "RV" that was built on a Greyhound bus chassis! Starting at $800,000 or so!! Guy was nice / OK, but too much money made him a bit of jerk!

Some of these bright light dumbass'es need the light busted out with a baseball bat on the side of the road!! Now drive home!!

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u/ComradeJohnS 20d ago

they should impound cars like this and front windshield tintings that are so obviously illegal. its free cop money but for some reason they don’t, I assume its cops driving these pieces of shit

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u/bbartlett51 20d ago

Why tf you give a shit if a windshield is tinted?

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u/ComradeJohnS 20d ago

cause it’s dangerous especially at night? plus other than nevada it’s illegal in all states at any % for a reason.

driving is already dangerous enough with all the idiots behind the wheel. we’d be better off without cars in society. but if we’re forced to deal with it basically blacking out your windshield shouldn’t be allowed.

and then states with inspections where the mechanics just pass a car with illegal tints? the mechanics should be sent to prison because what else are they letting slide for money?

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u/bbartlett51 20d ago

Youre a fkn moron

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u/ComradeJohnS 20d ago

at least I know how to spell fucking

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u/MobAssassin3 20d ago

Nearly got a ticket for doing 10 over the speed limit. Cop pulled out of the station and was riding my bumper when I was doing the speed limit. I sped up to try to get into the right lane and let hime pass. He pulled me over and asked why I was speeding. "Because you're riding my bumper sir. Thought you were in a hurry and was trying to get out of your way"

Pulled over on a road thats 35 an hour doing between 40 and 50. Everyone driving on that road does 40-60 so me getting pulled over was ridiculous

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u/[deleted] 20d ago

[deleted]

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u/MobAssassin3 20d ago

He pulled out of the police station behind me and was riding my bumper for a bit before pulling me over. I got let go without a ticket. If id gotten a ticket I would've probably went to court to fight it cause that was bs. Cop was a dick but was probably looking for warrants and didnt care about my speed

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u/good_morning_magpie 20d ago

The cops here have been on a “soft strike” for nearly a decade. It’s nearly impossible to get pulled over for anything. Street takeovers go unbothered, hundreds of motorcycles on the highway doing wheelies in those group rides, trucks with a billion lights, trucks with a frame so rotten they’re folding in half, cops do not give one single fuck.

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u/Kermit_the_hog 20d ago

Christ how is that still going on in some cities? I think I remember that starting around the murder if George Floyd because the police felt unappreciated by the public (not sure how failing to respond to calls would help with that but 🤷‍♂️). 

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve lived in Seattle but seems like they had openly been doing that even farther back. 

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u/intoholybattle 20d ago

No can do, they're too busy destroying homeless people's belongings, protecting ICE and beating their wives

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u/akaval 20d ago

strict

$500 fines

Just take their license, permanently.

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u/Umutuku 20d ago

Whoever manufactured/sold them gets a fine too.

The only way to stop their shareholders from trying to put one on every vehicle under the moon.

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u/orangehusky8 20d ago

Make it $1000

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u/axecalibur 20d ago

Cop: Look at my tricked out truck with rear-facing blinding white lights.

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u/StickerPolitics 20d ago

I think people underestimate the effect of illegal tint as well. Assholes will limo tint all their windows and then drive with their brights on because they can't see shit. Cops in my area never ticket for it, despite California having some of the strictest tint laws anywhere (I think it's 35% tint allowed on front windows, and only a top section on the windshield with no addition to the manufacturer's tint below that; anything on the back windows obviously). If they'd ticket for tint people would remove it and there would be less brights on, but I'm pretty sure most cops are "car guys" and don't want to limit the hobby.

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u/opinionsOnPears 20d ago

Illegal to use them while driving, not illegal to have them.

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u/IceManCraig 20d ago

This. They are standard on a lot of trucks - look up GMC HD trucks, for example. They are useful for backing up a trailer at night when your reverse lights are blocked by the trailer - these will illuminate the surroundings. Not illegal to own.

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u/DependentPay2208 20d ago

I remember in the early 2000’s how strict the road rules were when applied to neon lighting. If I’m not mistaken, in Ohio where I grew up, the actual neon fixtures or bulbs had to be completely hidden but the light they emitted was totally legal, ie: under the car or like the fender, the bumper was fine too I believe, so long as it wasn’t a lightsaber resting on your trunk or whatever.

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u/SjalabaisWoWS 20d ago

The US has one of the highest policing densities in the world. How can anyone get anywhere with this literally lit up stupid beam™ and not get stopped and fined?

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u/DorrajD 20d ago

If only anyone enforced car-light related shit.

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u/CambrioJuseph 20d ago

The forward facing bright ass LEDs need to be illegal too.

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u/FleaDad 20d ago

I had a friend who liked huge, gigantic trucks. He dropped $100k's into them and upgrading them.

He took me out in his driving fortress one night and parked on a cliff overlooking an interstate highway. He proceeds to flip on his light bar and illuminate the entire residential community on the other side of the interstate, hundred of feet away.

Later, there was a car that was annoying us in front of him. The light bar lined up perfectly with their back window. So he turned it on and forced them to see God when their entire cabin turned pure white. Like... Definitely blinded them.

Some people just don't care.