Lighting of vehicles on the road

Insights and challenges

What observations do you have about the lighting of vehicles traveling on our roads?

The lighting of vehicles on the road is crucial for the safety of all road users. With the development of technology, car manufacturers have started to use more and more new solutions. Nowadays, we can find cars on the roads that use different types of lighting. Still the most popular type of lighting are traditional halogen bulbs used in headlights such as H4 or H7, auxiliary bulbs also called signal bulbs found in taillights and turn signals such as P21W, P21/5W or W5W. However, cars using other types of lighting are becoming more common. The second most common type of headlight is the discharge lamp, commonly known as the xenon bulb. Its advantage over the halogen bulb is a much higher efficiency and effectiveness, which directly translates into the amount of light in front of the car. Recent years have seen a definite development of LED lighting, which can be found in an increasing number of cars. Manufacturers are more and more willing to turn to LED technology primarily because it is more energy efficient and offers better lighting quality than the aforementioned traditional halogen or xenon bulbs.

It should be mentioned at this point that more and more cars are also equipped with modern adaptive lighting technologies, such as turning lights, automatic change of high beam depending on road and ambient conditions.

Unfortunately, for most drivers using the roads on a daily basis, the number one observation about the lighting of vehicles on the road is the improper positioning of the lights, which results in blinding oncoming drivers, as well as their improper use, as discussed further below. In addition, many drivers do not check the lighting in their cars on a regular basis, resulting in the frequent sight of vehicles in which the lighting is incomplete, for example, one of the bulbs is burnt out.

What are the main problems when it comes to the lighting of vehicles traveling on the road?

The main problems with the lighting of vehicles on the road are that they are poorly positioned, insufficiently illuminate the road or are not used properly, which can lead to various dangers and dangerous situations on the road. However, the problem is more complex and is affected by several issues.

Returning to the main problems in the lighting of vehicles on the road that drivers face every day, we can mention several. Among the most important are certainly those already mentioned at the beginning. The main issue continuously is the problem of improperly adjusted headlights, which has the effect of blinding drivers coming from the opposite direction, creating an immediate danger in traffic. A similar effect is caused by the improper use of lights, such as turning on high-beam headlights in place of low-beam headlights, or not having headlights on in low-visibility conditions. Another major problem arises from insufficient illumination of the area in front of the vehicle, as well as the vehicle itself. This can be influenced by the use of low-quality light sources, the headlight itself, which loses its parameters over time (dulling of the headlight shade and reflector), or simply inadequate care of the lighting resulting in burned-out or damaged components. All of this can lead to potentially dangerous situations, especially in conditions of reduced visibility, such as night, fog, rain or snow, and directly affect driving comfort.

At this point, it should be mentioned that any light source used in the exterior lighting of a vehicle traveling on public roads must be ECE-approved. Each headlight is designed for a particular, specific light source (halogen bulb, xenon, LED) and only with it meets the approval standards. Any modification, such as changing a halogen bulb to LED, will result in its loss. This poses a danger to other road users, and this is because a change in the type of lighting means that the luminous flux produced in the headlight also changes.

An additional problem, in the context of the lighting of vehicles on the road, is also posed by legal regulations, most of which were created in the 1950s and have not been significantly changed to this day (these regulations form the basis, for example, for the examination of lighting during periodic inspections at SKP stations)

Why is the procedure for approving retrofits in Poland so complicated and cumbersome compared to, for example, Germany?

The lack of uniform standards and procedures across the European Union can lead to differences in the approval process for retrofits between countries. The administrative procedures involved can be more complicated and time-consuming in different countries, which can lead to delays and additional costs for vehicle owners. Regulators may be more restrictive about the safety and legality of retrofits in some countries, which may require additional documentation and testing for approval.

In Poland, the issue is still stalled, and no work is currently underway at the Ministry of Infrastructure to change this in a systemic way. The proposed solutions imposing an individual approval obligation on each interested party seem downright abstract.

However, if a driver is determined to legalize the use of retrofits in his car then theoretically he can do so. However, he must expect to go through the entire procedure individually. However, in order to obtain such individual approval, one must reckon with the fact that the whole process is multi-stage, time-consuming and will require the involvement of several institutions, not to mention the costs that will have to be incurred on this occasion. First, you need to go to the ITS (Institute of Motor Transport) to examine the performance of LED retrofits and confirm with a certificate that the headlights shine properly and meet the applicable standards. The next step is to obtain an expert opinion based on the certificate from the ITS. Then we go for a technical examination at the SKP (Vehicle Inspection Station), where the diagnostician issues a certificate that the lighting in the car works properly.

In Germany, the procedure is less complicated, which may be due to more flexible regulations or more simplified administrative procedures. In any case, in order to improve the approval process for retrofits in Poland, there is a need for changes in regulations, standardization of procedures and easier access to the necessary documentation and tests.

Good and bad retrofits - how do you tell the difference between a product that will work properly and one that will not?

Distinguishing a good retrofit that will work properly from a bad one that may cause problems can be difficult, but there are some criteria that can be taken into account. The first thing to look at when choosing a retrofit is the materials from which it is made. On the market, the vast majority of retrofits are products of questionable quality very often made of metal-like materials or a combination of different types of materials such as steel and graphite. High-quality products are characterized by the use of top-quality materials such as aluminum, which is key to its durability and effectiveness. Another very important element that we should pay attention to when buying a led conversion kit for traditional car lighting is the light source, i.e. the LED. It is it that is directly responsible for the efficiency of the light output, that is, the amount of light we see.

It is worth mentioning at this point that low-quality LED chips heat up to very high temperatures, which directly affects their performance and service life (the LED after reaching the limiting temperature is damaged, and in the best case its efficiency decreases even by half). For this reason, the components and technological solutions used in the production process are therefore very important. Their main task is precisely to protect the retrofit from damage by stabilizing the voltage and temperature on the diode (e.g. NTC sensor). The last very important thing is the type of cooling used in the product. We can find two types of cooling on the market - passive and active. The first is in the form of a heat sink, dissipating heat over its entire surface. The disadvantage of such a solution is its size, which must be large enough to effectively perform its function. Definitely a better and more popular solution today is active cooling. Thanks to the use of a moving element in the form of a fan, the heat is dissipated much more effectively despite its small size in contrast to passive cooling. In addition, in good retrofits, the cooling system is supported by the use of a copper pin, which further reduces the temperature on the diode itself.

When choosing, it is also worth paying attention to the packaging itself. Good retrofits are distinguished from others by a set of product-related information placed on it, as well as markings saying, for example, about the approval for sale in a particular market.

What determines “correct lighting” in the case of retrofits

Of key importance for the lighting parameters in the case of retrofits is the location of the light element, which is the LED. That’s why it’s so important to find a product that is designed to work properly with the reflector optics. The idea is that it should be positioned exactly like the twist in a halogen bulb. This is a basic condition for the retrofit to work properly with the reflector optics, guaranteeing that the light output will be directed to the right place and not shine into the proverbial sky. The LED is supposed to mimic the filament of a halogen bulb, so it should have similar, that is, small dimensions. So, it is not always the bigger the LED chip the better. Correct shining of the retrofit means that it provides optimal visibility on the road, both for the driver of the vehicle and other road users, and does not blind other drivers on the road. The light should be strong and bright enough to allow safe driving in various road conditions.

Which incandescent bulbs can be replaced with LED replacements so that you won’t have problems during the SKP examination?

Pomimo wielu zalet jakie posiadają diody elektroluminescencyjne (LED) w odniesieniu do tradycyjnego oświetlenia takie jak żywotność, wydajność, efektywność czy oszczędność, nadal nieuregulowana jest kwestia prawna związana z procesem ich homologowania.

Europejskie normy na razie nie dopuszczają możliwości stosowania LED-ów zamiast żarówek halogenowych i pomocniczych na zewnątrz auta, czyli m.in. do świateł mijania, drogowych, pozycyjnych, kierunkowskazów czy podświetlenia tablicy rejestracyjnej. Wynika z tego jasno, że jakiekolwiek modyfikacje oświetlenia zewnętrznego w pojeździe np. na LED są niezgodne z obowiązującym prawem i mogą skutkować zatrzymaniem dowodu rejestracyjnego podczas kontroli drogowej. Co więcej jadąc na badanie okresowe samochodem, w którym nastąpiła wymiana elementów oświetlenia na LED możemy być pewni, że diagnosta nie dopuści takiego pojazdu do użytkowania na drogach publicznych (nie podbije dowodu rejestracyjnego).

Zgoła inaczej wygląda sytuacja w przypadku kiedy chcemy zmodyfikować oświetlenie na LED wewnątrz samochodu. Retrofity można tu stosować zupełnie legalnie we wnętrzu poprawiając w ten sposób jasność, zmieniając barwę światła, wydłużając trwałość oświetlenia i oszczędzając energię. Zatem jeżeli chcemy poddać konwersji tradycyjnego oświetlenia na LED w podsufitce, schowkach, podświetleniu nóg czy dolnej krawędzi drzwi możemy to zrobić bez konsekwencji. W takim przypadku diagnosta na stacji SKP bez wahania przybije pieczątkę w naszym dowodzie, co pozwoli na bezproblemową jazdę po drogach publicznych

Przed zakupem zamienników LED warto dokładnie sprawdzić przepisy drogowe obowiązujące w danym kraju lub regionie, aby upewnić się, że wybrane produkty spełniają wszystkie wymagania.

Bartłomiej Szternal
Product Manager