LEDs are being used everywhere, from the newest Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan to the Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike. Even city stop-lights and buses are being retrofitted with high-intensity LED clusters. So.. why the recent trend? What makes LEDs so special? Are they really better than incandescent bulbs? LEDs consist of a semiconductor crystal chip which, when activated by a relatively low electrical current, emit extremely precise wavelengths of light with efficiency and precision that conventional lighting cannot match. Incandescent bulbs however, work by heating up a fragile filament inside a glass bulb until it radiates light. A huge amount of energy is wasted in this process, and is released not through light output but by heat. In addition, filters such as colored glass or plastic are required to change the light's color output. Our high-intensity LEDs consume about 1/10th the amount of energy that a traditional 1156-style incandescent bulb uses! When comparing visibility, the light radiated by an incandescent bulb contains the full spectrum of visible light wavelengths, this is perfect for applications where "white light" and "dispersion" is required. However, once an incandescent bulb is filtered, its light output is reduced. The greatest benefit with LEDs is their ability to create high-intensity monochromatic light. This is why LED colors are so pure and deep, they allow the human eye to see true red, blue, and/or amber. In terms of longevity, the components of an LED are encased in a virtually indestructible high-strength optical grade epoxy. There is no glass or filament to break, making LEDs perfect for rugged environments and temperature extremes. With incandescent lighting, even if the glass casing of a bulb stays intact, the filament can break from sudden impact, vibration, and/or shock. LEDs can last anywhere from 10 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs! As mentioned earlier, incandescent lights require filters such as painted glass, plastic lenses, or rubber sleeves to change the color of a bulb's light output. These covers hinder light output, reduce efficiency, and often cause premature bulb failure. In addition, the retained heat from traditional bulbs tends to slowly decay light housings by making them brittle and also causing lenses to fade. In terms of safety, the light emitted from an LED is in a narrow wavelength of visible light which is easily   coherent and can be seen from greater distances. Because the light output is direct, it is not easily diffused by other interfering light sources such as sunlight, reflections, and/or glare. Because LEDs are solid-state, they illuminate approximately 200 milliseconds faster than incandescent bulbs. This increased safety benefit allows motorists following the car to react rapidly to changing traffic conditions