To hate LED headlights!

ClockworkDisaster · 09/09/2024 04:22

DoctorLove · 08/09/2024 16:35

Lol, their visibility is drastically improved. The way matrix lights work mean the car directly in front would only see dipped headlights. Main beam would project around the sides of the car only, improving visibility for them and I.

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This really doesn’t improve our visibility at all - quite the opposite. Our dimmer lights suddenly put the space directly in front of our car into shadow and it’s so much harder to see what is in front. It can be like having a black hole in front of you. Half the time I end up pulling over and letting people with these headlights go past.

suburburban · 08/09/2024 18:26

Thanks @cryinglaughing

BurntBroccoli · 08/09/2024 18:21

@cryinglaughing
They are definitely an improvement on my old glasses which didn't have any tint at all or anti reflection coating.

cryinglaughing · 08/09/2024 18:12

BurntBroccoli · 08/09/2024 18:04

@suburburban
The lenses are Zeiss, clear view Drivesafe. Seem great so far on rainy dull days.

I have these, sadly the effects of them are minimal for me.

BurntBroccoli · 08/09/2024 18:04

@suburburban
The lenses are Zeiss, clear view Drivesafe. Seem great so far on rainy dull days.

firef1y · 08/09/2024 17:43

cryinglaughing · 07/09/2024 22:23

I too live rurally.
These headlights are a menace. I literally have to stop or risk dropping off the road as they are so blinding.

I bloody hate the things with a passion!

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Same here. I'm a proper shortarse that makes it even worse. Plus i regularly drive up a hill at night, if theres a car coming in the other direction with LED lights im blinded

user68901 · 08/09/2024 17:32

I've been complaining about this for years particularly when it is raining as the LEDs light up all the rain drops. I absolutely hate it.

Shade17 · 08/09/2024 16:52

DoctorLove · 08/09/2024 16:35

Lol, their visibility is drastically improved. The way matrix lights work mean the car directly in front would only see dipped headlights. Main beam would project around the sides of the car only, improving visibility for them and I.

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This. Matrix LEDs are incredible. The BMW laser headlights were also insanely good but I think they’ve been discontinued now due to LED tech catching them up recently.

DoctorLove · 08/09/2024 16:35

Branster · 08/09/2024 13:09

@DoctorLove I bet the drivers cloaked in your car's lights don't find that amusing. That bright light is most likely affecting their rear view mirror inside their car and, also, they can't view the road behind them ver well because all they see are some super bright lights.

I agree the technology is very clever and our own cars have these lights but it's a pain in the arse for everyone else.

Lol, their visibility is drastically improved. The way matrix lights work mean the car directly in front would only see dipped headlights. Main beam would project around the sides of the car only, improving visibility for them and I.

YouOKHun · 08/09/2024 16:14

Jerranium · 07/09/2024 22:32

I hate them and driving at night too.

Was at a supermarket at about 11AM this morning, yes daytime, and this ridiculous honking great SUV came towards me and I couldn't believe how bright it's lights were and that was daytime! Totally fucking unnecessary.

It was a massive shit white SUV too. Ugly bloody thing as well as annoyingly blinding.

That's another problem with being in a standard size car when the very bright lights coming towards you are attached to an SUV; the lights are at eye level. It's this combination that I find really difficult.

My sister has a 2021 Audi with these sophisticated lights. The daytime running light stopped working and it was no longer a case of a new bulb and a spanner but instead required a laptop and now she is being told that the cost to fix the light could be around £750, probably more.

suburburban · 08/09/2024 15:55

BurntBroccoli · 08/09/2024 15:41

Also got some new glasses with a tint which will hopefully help with the LED glare.

Where did you buy these from?

Did you have an anti glare coating

Would be great to know if these help

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 08/09/2024 15:53

YANBU. Especially 4 wheel drives that are much higher up than my hatchback and are right in my rearview mirror. Can't believe they are actually legal.

Iwasafool · 08/09/2024 15:51

MereDintofPandiculation · 08/09/2024 12:16

In fact I find it quite amusing sometimes following older vehicles down unlit roads that have halogen headlights, the Matrix lights cloak their car and light up the road around them, it's brilliant. It may be amusing for you but it's disconcerting for the driver in front.

There are actually a lot of people driving round who have an astigmatism and aren't wearing their corrective glasses/contacts, these people usually experience the glare/dazzling. I have an astigmatism and still experience dazzling with my up to date corrective prescription. You are lucky not to. Don't be too sniffy, suggesting that it's people who aren't wearing their glasses who have a problem.

I don't have astigmatism, had my eyes checked 3 weeks ago and got my new glasses last week.

I hate being followed by cars that light up my car and the around me, I think it is bloody rude and like you I'm sure if I had astigmatism I'd wear my glasses.

Original poster

CherryValley5 · 08/09/2024 15:48

MouseofCommons · 08/09/2024 07:29

Yanbu. Even DS who has just started driving hates them. He assumes people are driving with full beams. Its not just my old eyes that struggle with them.

Yes - DD recently passed her test and this will be her first autumn/winter of driving, she is finding nighttime difficult due to these lights! We share a car so she keeps getting flashed because of people thinking that our LEDs are full beams too. Really gave her a fright the other night as she kept being blinded due to said flashes on a dark country road..

OP posts:

Nanny0gg · 08/09/2024 15:48

CherryValley5 · 07/09/2024 21:37

Don’t get me wrong, I love them in terms of my own visibility, it’s fantastic, especially on dark country roads but they absolutely blind other oncoming drivers to the point that I don’t think it is safe or fair. Any newer car coming towards you at night these days is dazzlingly bright. Just switched to a new car (Audi, so notoriously bright headlights..) and I constantly get flashed by people thinking that I have my full beams on. They’re rightfully annoyed but I can’t do anything about it!

They're the main reason I can no longer drive at night

BurntBroccoli · 08/09/2024 15:45

DoctorLove · 08/09/2024 07:25

There are actually a lot of people driving round who have an astigmatism and aren't wearing their corrective glasses/contacts, these people usually experience the glare/dazzling. Or they just don't know there is a problem with their vision.

Personally I don't have any issues with LED headlights, nor does anyone else I know.

The matrix lighting on my car is game changing, lights up every inch of the road and intelligently dips the beam in areas where pedestrians or other vehicles are, amazing technology.

In fact I find it quite amusing sometimes following older vehicles down unlit roads that have halogen headlights, the Matrix lights cloak their car and light up the road around them, it's brilliant.

It depends what car you're driving. If you all have massive SUVs then it's not so much of a problem.
My son is 21 with perfect vision and says the LEDs are too bright.

It's not funny at all being followed by a SUV and being shrouded jn a shadow by too bright LEDs. Quite dangerous in fact.

Iwasafool · 08/09/2024 15:45

I thought it was something to do with my eyes and ageing, when I heard younger people complaining about it I was quite relieved. I was thinking I would need to stop driving as the problem was so bad. Does anyone else find it particularly annoying when it is raining? It does seem to make it worse for me.

BurntBroccoli · 08/09/2024 15:41

Also got some new glasses with a tint which will hopefully help with the LED glare.

suburburban · 08/09/2024 14:45

Bluenotgreen · 08/09/2024 14:22

Yeah, I can’t really drive in the dark any more, which is really problematic October to March.

I have to drive in the dark but I really don't want to anymore

BananaGrapeMelon · 08/09/2024 14:43

Muchtoomuchtodo · 07/09/2024 21:39

Check that your lights are set at the correct angle. If they’re not it can make it worse for oncoming drivers

This. I had to get the garage to adjust mine. It's the angle not the brightness.

BurntBroccoli · 08/09/2024 14:36

Kentuckycriedfrickin · 07/09/2024 22:39

I live rurally too. Last night I encountered an huge SUV with headlights so bright that my own headlights switched off, they were on auto and I had to turn them to manual for them to stay on. This was on a long, straight single carriageway that's national speed limit but has a blind corner at either end and a hidden junction halfway along. I ended up pulling over when my hazards on until it had cleared past me as I couldn't see a thing.

There's just no need for them.

OMG! So so dangerous!

Bluenotgreen · 08/09/2024 14:22

Yeah, I can’t really drive in the dark any more, which is really problematic October to March.

BurntBroccoli · 08/09/2024 14:17

Yes they're bloody awful and I've flashed lots of newer cars thinking they had full beam on. Occasionally they have flashed me back so I was truly blinded! Nightmare.
I'm in an older, normal car so I get headlights in my rear view mirrors and back window too.
Horrible for wildlife as well.

PurpleThistle7 · 08/09/2024 13:29

I thought I had a new problem with my eyes or it was an aging thing or something until I asked some friends. I got a fright the other day when this ridiculous SUV pulled out behind me and their lights went straight into my rear view mirror and I couldn't see a thing for a moment. I live in a city so there's no need for any of this - there are streetlights everywhere. It's so dangerous and definitely triggers my migraines too :(

suburburban · 08/09/2024 13:23

daisychain01 · 08/09/2024 07:24

My latest pair of driving glasses from SpecSavers has a special coating on them to create some protection from glare and the harshness of modern head lights. They gave me a demo of "with" and "without" the coating and there really was a difference, so it might be worth considering if you wear glasses for driving. You'd need to get the lenses of any current glasses changed obviously, as it's part of the manufacturing process.

Yes I was looking into those

That is helpful

Another optician recommended Cocoons that wrap around your glasses but I'm nit sure and think proper glasses may be better

The glasses would be £300 due to vari focals so it is quite a cost