Blinded by the lights - night time driving

I have really noticed this recently! I've never been nervous driving but recently feel constantly dazzled by oncoming headlights. I hate it. They're not on high beam, just overwhelmingly bright. It stops me being able to see clearly.
I will get my eyes checked but as its not every car, I'm sure it's the newer, brighter lights. It's dangerous.

They are definitely brighter. My current cars headlights are so much brighter than any other car I have ever owned.

I’ve got quite bd astigmatism and have really noticed this brightness problem recently. They often completely blind me. And most lights seem to be directed straight out rather than tilted towards the road. It’s extremely dangerous and puts me off driving in the dark. I’m only 40 - I thought I’d be fine driving in the dark until my 70’s at least!

I got some yellow tinted glasses that go over my normal glasses. I look like an idiot but hopefully not many people can see into my car when it's dark (at least that's what I tell myself)

Thank goodness I no longer have a 60 mile round commute. I do drive at night one day a week on a so called A road. I meet a lot of traffic presumably coming home from work as it's usually at tea time. Hate it as it seems that some haven't dimmed their lights but as others have said it probably the LED lights.
I have the auto dimming but you can switch it off but it means I can concentrate on the road better though it dims the lights even if no traffic
due to people having bright lights on their properties.
Have been thinking of getting the orange tinted glasses which I think you can put Iver any existing glasses. My sister who livrs abroad got them years ago.

@CyanCrystalViolet thank you. I might ask next time I'm in. I've heard mixed things about the yellow ones tho.

My Optometrist recommended yellow lenses, I bought a clip on pair to go over my ordinary glasses for £15, which helped (until DH broke them 😠).

It's usually A, plus another issue is that a significantly higher number of cars are SUVs - if you're driving a car or 'regular' height, cars with higher lights will bother you more (especially in rear view mirrors or side mirrors)

Astigmatism can also affect the glare you get from car lights so it is worth getting your eyes checked as others have mentioned.

I wear prism lenses and have one pair with antiglare and one pair without. The coating does really make a difference.

Definitely A and worse if you are in a normal car and they're at eye level in an SUV.

Combined with a decline in my night vision as I age, I am also reluctant to drive in unfamiliar areas at night now.

Stating the obvious but a crystal clear windscreen inside and out does help a little.

It's a real problem. They are too bright.

I learned recently that some cars have an auto setting for the high beam. I drove a car where every time I started the engine the auto high beam setting was on, even if I'd switched it off on the last journey. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if many drivers aren't aware that their car has that feature. I think some cars with that feature don't respond quickly enough to the lights of the oncoming traffic, and so will momentarily dazzle the oncoming driver as they come round the bend.

Research suggested those yellow tinted specs actually make it harder to see.

I suffer with this. The bright headlights blow my pupils open then I can't see anything for a split second afterward. Frightening. I've just been to the opticians too and just a +0.25 in one eye and nothing else wrong.

I might get down anti glare glasses and give them a go.

It’s mostly A. Plus if you’re in a hatchback the lights of SUVs are right in your eyes. Conditions like astigmatism don’t help, and astigmatism often gets worse with age. Get your eyes tested and make sure any prescription is up to date. Also make sure your windscreen is spotlessly clean inside and out. If you’re starting to get dazzled glance to the left and focus on the kerb/line until the light is out of your eye line. Also put your visor down and see if that helps.

Absolutely! I've had to stop driving at night because of this problem 😡

www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/nearly-one-in-four-drivers-think-most-car-headlights-are-too-bright

I noticed that my eyes were drawn to oncoming headlights, so now I make a concerted effort to concentrate on my side of the road ahead.

I'm amazed those bright lights are legal.

LED lights are a problem generally tbh. The street lights with them keep the birds awake at night and if birds don't get enough sleep it shortens their lives.

I really struggle with this, especially as my job involves night time call-outs. So many over-bright headlights 😭

A and
Have you got older or even, cataracts?

Lots of cars have auto dimming now and I think they dim later then a human would.

im the same. Bright lights cause migraines for me. It’s the same with all the autos and people sitting with brake lights on.

I really struggle with this as I drive a lot on very narrow but dual lane country roads & it feels terrifying being blinded by the oncoming cars. I wear glasses, don’t know if this makes it worse?

A.

when it first started there were posters on here saying people were flashing them thinking the6 had main beam on but it’s just their led lights.

Its awful, I avoid driving in the dark as much as possible and am considering shelling out for night time anti glare driving glasses.

I think it's led lights plus drivers not knowing how to adjust the tilt.

Plus as you get older your can't deal with direct light so well.

Apparently glasses with a yellow tint can help with the latter. A couple of my friends have them and they say it makes a difference.

I know some people swear by orange tinted glasses. I haven't tried it personally as I drive wearing varifocals, so it's out of my price range to try it and see if it works.
If you have 20/20 vision it might be worth a shot.
I drive a car with ridiculously bright headlights and am dazzled by them myself.