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Car lighting system

Car lighting system
Car lighting system is one thing which seems to have evolved very slowly in the automotive world. Early cars had carbide brass lanterns and incandescent lamps used on carriages. The first truly innovative development, in the early 1920s, was the dual filament or "Duplo" lamp. The early 1950s saw the introduction of the first asymmetrical lamp, the "Duplo-D", with a low beam and a high beam in a single sealed housing.

The next big development, the single-filament halogen bulb, became available in Europe in the mid-1960s. These new, longer-lasting lamps took less energy than incandescent and provided 50 per cent more light. Dual- filament halogen lamps developed in the 1970s are used today in most of the cars.

Headlights remain one of the most highly regulated systems on any vehicle. Then what is that about headlights of some cars which make people excited about them? This is so because headlights are not what they were at one time. They are now an item that imparts style to a car. They herald the arrival of a car from a long distance. So they have become an object of experimentation by the designers of cars and car accessories. Several plans are conceived to make them look more and more attractive. Beautifying headlights is not an end in itself. The ultimate aim is to make the whole car look more attractive. That is what the owners of the car want.

However, amongst all this experimentation about the looks of a car, the main purpose of headlights should not be lost sight of. Their contribution to safety on the road has to be kept in view. There have been a number of innovations in this regard as well. There are brighter headlights whose beam is well directed. There are Halogen headlights, LED headlights and Xenon headlights etc, which are brighter. There are better reflectors and better lenses which direct the beam in a better way. Moreover, there are projector headlights and halo-headlights. All this helps the driver in having a clear view of the road.

Besides the different types of light sources the housings of the headlights have also received designer's attention. They are now available in different designs and colors. So, there are different types of housings to choose from like chrome housings and black housings. It is also the housings that give a distinctive looks to the headlights.


Being a safety feature the final approval of their functioning can not be left to the manufacturers. The concerned authority has framed regulations in this regard. All car headlights have to meet these regulations. The buyer of headlights will have to satisfy himself that the headlights that he is going to acquire conform to these regulations. You can enhance the looks of your car by smart selection of headlights.

In the same way, tail lights are an integral part of the car. Tail lights attract people by their brilliant looks. At the same time they warn people to keep a safe distance from them. Two opposite reactions are expected from the tail lights and they succeed in doing so. They are located outside the body of a car where they attract attention. Designers exploit this situation to use tail lights in improving the looks of a car. They are no longer two small lights placed at two ends at the rear. There are creatively designed larger tail lights that are now available. Wrap around tail lights have been designed which are wider and curve along from the back to the side of the car. They stand out and impress the onlookers.

It has to be kept in view that primarily tail lights are safety features. Even when the visibility is not good they warn the driver of a car of the car moving ahead of him or her. Tail lights can also indicate to him or her whether that car would be turning left or right, or is applying brakes. A forewarning of such movements enables the driver who follows to maneuver his car in a safe way. Possibility of accidents or collisions is reduced. Tail lights are an important aid in ensuring a smooth accident free flow of traffic.

People do appreciate the performance and safety aspects of a car, but they also care as to how it looks. People tend to judge other people by the looks of their car as well. Owners of the car, therefore, not to be found wanting in this regard try to enhance looks of their car by acquiring attractive accessories and visible parts and tail lights are one such item. Sometimes the old tail lights are replaced by the new ones only to make the car look better.

Tail lights thus admirably perform the dual function of improving safety and improving the looks of a car. Tail lights are available in the market in various shapes, sizes, and designs.

Appearances do matter!