NHTSA Complaint #10398087 — 2011 CADILLAC CTS

THIS CONCERNS THE PWM FREQUENCY USED ON MANY LED RUNNING LIGHTS BEING USED ON RECENT MODEL CARS. MY WIFE IS VERY SENSITIVE TO MANY OF THE NEW LED RUNNING LIGHTS AND REFUSES TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THEM. THE STROBING OF THE LED LIGHTS MAKES THEM APPEAR TO BE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE AT THE SAME TIME. THIS MAKES DRIVING BEHIND THEM AND PASSING THEM VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER. I DON'T NOTICE IT BUT SHE DOES AND SHE WILL COVER HER EYES WHEN WE'RE OUT DRIVING AT NIGHT AND GET CLOSE TO THEM. READING ON THE INTERNET, SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO COMPLAINS ABOUT THESE LIGHTS. AS AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEER I UNDERSTAND HOW PULSE WIDTH MODULATED DRIVE CIRCUITS ARE USED TO CONTROL THE BRIGHTNESS OF LEDS AS WELL AS THEIR COLOR TEMPERATURE. HOWEVER, I SEE NO REASON FOR THE LOW FREQUENCY BEING USED IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS. CERTAINLY RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE AS TO WHAT PWM FREQUENCY IS ACCEPTABLE TO 99.9% OF THE POPULATION. I THINK THAT LEDS HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE, INCLUDING IN VEHICULAR APPLICATIONS, AND AM ALL FOR THEIR USE. HOWEVER, THEY NEED TO BE DRIVEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT DOESN'T COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR