Sunday, July 20, 2008

identifying headlights

When I drive at night, I like to play a little game where I attempt to identify the vehicle that is driving behind me. Size and shape certainly help identify the class of the vehicle (ie: sedan versus SUV/truck) but headlights can be surprisingly distinct.

One of the easiest vehicles to identify is the previous generation Ford Explorer. It has a two by two headlight arrangement with the turn signal lights diagonally across from each other. Of course, when the turn signal is on, it's a dead giveaway, but they are still partially illuminated when jsut the main headlight is on.

Another easy to identify vehicle is a Chevy pick-up, both Silverados and Colorados. They sport similar headlight arrangements with a bar (chrome on the Silverado) that splits the assembly into upper and lower halves. Obviously, the bar isn't lit at night, but there's usually enough reflected light to see the distinct separation between the two sections.

Most cars, principally due to their generic looks, are more difficult to identify. However, a couple of nights ago, I correctly guessed an older Toyota Camry while I was waiting at stoplight. However, until I can parlay this into a meaningful skill, it remains un-monetized.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

well, if you can identify a cop car's lights, you might save some money that way. Or trick a not-so-friendly coworker into getting a ticket.