Matthew,

OUCH!! Actually I hit an elk in Grand Teton last June, or, more correctly, it hit me.
I never saw it, and I hit it at about 20mph. I couldn't see it BECAUSE OF THE
BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I was completely blinded and they
were using stock lights (but high off the ground since they were SUVs). Did
$6000 worth of damage to my Corrado.

My main argument about the higher watt bulbs is that for all the increase in
wattage, you get minimal increase in light output. You are FAR better off using
60 watt auxiliary driving lights with high quality reflectors. They'll throw more
usable light to where you want it to go.

Actually, here on the East Coast, I find fog lights to be the best defense against
deer. The wide flat beam illuminates them while they're still off the road.
100watt bulbs don't do that.

The increase in brightness of the hi-watt bulbs does not convert to really
functional light, but WILL present a brighter headlight to oncoming traffic and
therefore increase the chance of their hitting a deer or elk during that blind
moment. Worse, that second it takes for the person with Hi-watt bulbs to dim
them has already dazzled the oncoming driver, so even if you're conscientious
about dimming the lights, you're still blinding them momentarily.

(If someone with poorly aimed lights, or very bright low beams blinds me, I hit my
brights and diving lights so I can see, but that blinds them!).

I have Hella fog lights AND driving lights on my Van. I understand why the folks
with the really crappy '86 and up stock rectangular lights want to use Hi-watt
bulbs, but it really doesn't fix the problem. The poor reflectors and lens optics
are the culprits and making the lights "brighter" just means brighter poor light
distribution. A better fix it converting to the Euro rectangular lights, SA Quad
lights, or just the dual round '80-'85 lights, or adding aux lights to the bumper.

James

> (which I personally think are a waste of money and inconsiderate to other
> drivers, but others on the list disagree with me).

james, maybe you haven't lived somewhere where elk, moose, deer, sheep,
cows, coyote and mountain lions roam the streets at night. Literally. If
you hit a moose, you are a gonner. You may have a chance with an elk cow,
but if you hit a bull with a rack, your a gonner too. So i like to have
sufficient lights. I'm not a redneck and i turn them off in town or around
other cars.

Cheers
Matthew