Date: 2 Dec 2002 04:00:40 -0800 From: johnnopsamn.com (John Evans) Subject: Re: Headlight Windshield Wipers
"Mark Gerritsma" <magernopsam.nld> wrote in message news:<asb919$q6h$1nopsam1.tilbu1.nb.home.nl>... > "Susan Kamber" <kamber2000nopsamcom> schreef in bericht > news:as8u10$sv5$1nopsamnews.rcn.net > > What really is the point of windshield wipers on the headlights of > > many Saabs. To me it just seems to be a gimmick. > > A German test of 2 years ago is your best answer. > They have tested stray light from a headlamp and found that at 30% > light extinction by dirt, oncomming traffic had the highest chance of > being blinded. > For cleaning a headlight they tested the two most common systems: > washer only and a washer/wiper combo. According to the test the washer > only system was only able to achieve a best result of 25% light > extinction, while the combo system got to only 5% extinction. > The combo system both cleans better and also makes it safer for > oncomming traffic to encounter you, so the headlight wipers are > certainly not a gimmick. Forgive me if I go off on a slight tangent (well this is Usenet) Since I've started driving a Saab (with washer/wiper headlight) I've noticed that I am constantly getting flashed at night by other drivers (common practice here in Ireland if you are approaching another driver with your full beams on). I actually started to get paranoid about it and brought my car to my dealer once specifically to check that my lights were correctly aligned, and since have the beams checked every time I have a service or am in the dealer for any reason. I've also had the beams checked as part of the Irish National Car Test for cars over two years old. I still get flashed - the conclusion I've come to is that many drivers here, in particular in country areas, have become used to the beams from other cars being obscured by dirt. I also get flashed for having my lights on during the day, but thats a whole other story.... /John
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