Headlight aiming can be confusing, especially when there are various sources giving slightly different aiming advice. Some are wrong, some are right, and others fall somewhere in between.
The main issue with many of these various instructional guides is that they fail to address key factors that determine how the lamp was designed to be aimed. This often leads to inaccurate advice which can result in poor visibility for the driver or excessive glare for oncoming traffic.
Here are the main factors to aiming headlamps:
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- Lamp height: determines beam height
- Lamp type: determines aiming type
- Lamps taller than 35 inches: requires further adjustments to prevent glare
Today’s modern headlamps are designed as a Visual Optical Aim (VOA) system. This type of lamp includes distinct features that aid in the proper aiming of the beams. These features (as referred to in the guide below) are intended to make the visual aiming process more effective and ensure the beams are aligned to their intended height.
For the full detailed instructions on headlight aiming, head on over to the website of lighting expert Dan Stern by clicking this link HERE.
For the PDF file of the Headlight Aiming Quick-Reference Guide shown below, click HERE.
