Q I am annoyed by the "blue" headlights of oncoming cars. The glare from those lights is almost as annoying as the glare from the high-beam headlights. I have heard other people say they are bothered by it and consider it a hazard to driving. Who should be contacted so people could express their wishes to stop the manufacture of these "hazardous" blue lights?
A The headlights you describe likely are HID (high-intensity discharge) lights, or xenon lights. They are blue because of gases inside of the bulb that peak in the visible blue region, according to the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council.
The lamps provide up to 70 percent more light while using less power than traditional lamps, according to experts at the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. They give drivers better visibility at night and in adverse weather conditions such as rain or snow.
However, some drivers complain that they are too bright for approaching vehicles and that the intense blue light shining in the rear-view mirror is distracting.
The lights have been around for a while. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration took consumer comments on these lights in 2001. But you can always lodge a complaint with the agency. Go to www.safercar.gov. In the upper right, click on "File a complaint." Or call 1-888-327-4236.
Icy door Q We have a problem with the outside door to our home freezing up. What causes this, and how can it be prevented?
A I believe you are referring to ice or frost forming on the storm door of your home. Typically, the cause of this ice buildup is not the storm door, but the prime or interior door.
Ice forms on your storm door because gaps around the main door let moist indoor air leak into the space, where it is trapped between the two doors. The moisture then condenses on the cold surfaces of the storm door, forming frost or ice.
