Anyone tried yellow headlights?

So I went to France camping last year, and while I was there I fitted these old Lucas headlight deflector lenses, which being made pre-1993 also turn the light yellow.

Now, since they throw the headlight alignment out for driving on the right I can't use them in the UK, but I did quite like the yellow beam for night driving- it seemed to give better vision somehow.

Anyone fitted yellow bulbs to their motor and preferred it?

Its illegal in this country is it not?

Construction and use regs and MOT Tester's handbook both allow for headlights to be white or yellow, so legal as far as I'm concerned. The deflector lenses are technically illegal though as they alter the beam pattern.

Everyone's headlights look yellow to me, but only when I wear my "Night hawk" night driving specs.

There is something about seeing the world in a yellow tint that can help in some situations at night. Maybe somebody can explain it.

Do those yellow lenses clip/screw over the headlights? I like them nnd need to do something for my trip at the end of the month, any idea where I could buy some from?

Im not sure about the science but yellow 'night driving' glasses have been sold for years ..... maybe there is something in it that someone can expand on ????

presume you've 'googled it'

Yellow lights were discontinued in France years ago, still see the occasional oldie with them on a Deux Cheveau.

MrNasty said:

Do those yellow lenses clip/screw over the headlights? I like them nnd need to do something for my trip at the end of the month, any idea where I could buy some from?

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The Lucas converters turn up on ebay from time to time. They have three elastic clips and should fit any 7-inch Lucas-pattern headlight. You have to remove the headlight surround to fit them, so its a bit of a pain on a defender but gives you something to do while waiting for the ferry Would be a bit simpler on a series as there's no need to loosen the indicators.

As far as I could tell (and unlike the stick-on 'converters') these actually refract the headlight beam to the other side of the road rather than just blocking out or diffusing the offending part.

I think the science behind the yellow lights is that they remove all the blue component from the light, which your eyes can't pick up very well against dark surroundings anyway. The extreme case is a red light which doesn't ruin your night vision (check out any WW2 submarine movie). But then red headlights would get a bit confusing methinks

the human eye is most sensitive to light in the yellow part of the spectrum, don't know why, just remember this bit of trivia from my uni days doing lighting design.

thus using a yellow light will be more effective to the human eye

i know the most effective colour to use is Black on Yellow background as well so obviously something in it !!