Indicator brightness

[Huzzah]

Now led headlamps are so bright, isn't it time to turn up the indicators a bit? I can hardly see the front ones at night.

[Simon_GH]

Some cars reduce the brightness of the headlamp when that indicator is activated.

[bristolracer]

Since the introduction of LED, I find many indicators are way to small. All that space on the back of a car and an indicator the size of my thumb.

[Pica-Pica]

Huzzah said:

Now led headlamps are so bright, isn't it time to turn up the indicators a bit? I can hardly see the front ones at night.

That’s just poor design.

[Huzzah]

Simon_GH said:

Some cars reduce the brightness of the headlamp when that indicator is activated.

I've seen DRLs switch off on the side that's indicating, seems sensible. Reducing power of dip/main. because turning taking an exit or changing lanes seems counter intuitive.

[Glosphil]

On my Leon the DRLs are the indicators & flash orange. As the DRLs are around 3 sides of the headlamps the indicators are hard to miss.

[SAS Tom]

The indicator on my Skoda Superb are definitely bright enough. When you indicate it reflects off everything, road signs turn orange way more than anything else I’ve driven.

[119]

Simon_GH said:

Some cars reduce the brightness of the headlamp when that indicator is activated.

What cars do that?

[Muddle238]

Simon_GH said:

Some cars reduce the brightness of the headlamp when that indicator is activated.

PH: Terminology matters.

The headlamps are never dimmed for an indicator, what you are referring to are DRLs which on some vehicles are dimmed on the corresponding side when an indicator is activated. After the signal cancels, the DRL returns to full brightness. It's designed for conspicuity of the indicator, although some may argue that it's poor design if a DRL has to dim in order to see an indicator.

Some cars have the DRL switch to amber for the indicator, which is a different application but a similar effect; the DRL function is removed entirely while the indicator on the corresponding side is in use.

Some JLR vehicles do a similar thing on the rear with the tail lights; the tail light is extinguished when the corresponding indicator is active. I'm not a fan of this, as it means you cannot have such a vehicle lit with sidelights at night plus hazards, as the indicators overrule the sidelight circuit. If you break down at night, your vehicle isn't as well lit as a normal vehicle with normal, independant sidelight/indicator functionality.

[Sebring440]

Simon_GH said:

Some cars reduce the brightness of the headlamp when that indicator is activated.

Umm, no.

[Square Leg]

I find the rear indicators that are encompassed by the brake light the worse.
Can’t see the indicator whilst the brake lights are on.