Are headlights getting even brighter or is it me?!

[Riskyrice]

Dear god, the season of night driving is always bad, but it seems headlights are getting even worse? Driving home just now was like being attacked by hundreds of torches right in the eye! I've still got white spots.

I do wear glasses and have mild astigmatism, but it's getting to the point where it feels borderline unsafe to drive at night. Is there anything I can do to reduce the dazzling?

Yes! Keep your distance from the car in front. You should be able to see ‘tyres to tarmac’ anyway and having a little distance between you and the cars in front helps. If you live in an area with loads of Chelsea tractors it’s worse too- the lights are also higher.

How does keeping your distance from the car in front help with the headlights of cars coming towards you?

Have you had your eyes checked recently? There has been no sudden change in car headlights that would explain what you are experiencing.

Or are you driving a different (maybe lower) vehicle, that puts the lights more directly in your eyes?

I think the same, I do a lot of driving on country lanes.
Also when you are stationary and the driver in front has their brakes on their brake lights can be dazzling too.

I hate it...I only stick to local, street lamp-lit roads at night for this very reason. Country lane, night driving terrifies me.

@Etinoxaurus

Yes! Keep your distance from the car in front. You should be able to see ‘tyres to tarmac’ anyway and having a little distance between you and the cars in front helps. If you live in an area with loads of Chelsea tractors it’s worse too- the lights are also higher.

I live semi rurally so lots and lots of range rovers and SUVs, whereas I'm in a tiny Peugeot.

I always keep my distance, I wish people behind me would. I usually end up turning my middle mirror when it gets too distracting.

I’m newly 34, no eyesight problems known and they are getting brighter. It’s a remarkable difference.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

Have you had your eyes checked recently? There has been no sudden change in car headlights that would explain what you are experiencing.

Or are you driving a different (maybe lower) vehicle, that puts the lights more directly in your eyes?

I've always found the brightness of headlights difficult, I think the difference now is I've been very anxious lately so it's affecting my driving confidence a lot more

Short answer — yes, headlights are brighter now than they were (say) 20 or 30 years ago. Most cars now come with xenon or LED lights, as opposed to the filament bulbs they used to have. Xenons and LEDs tend to have bluer light, which can appear more glaring even if it isn’t technically brighter.

You can buy yellow night time driving glasses that help a bit (they also do over-glasses if you already wear them).

I always glance down to the left hand road line as cars pass right by.

I keep up with eye tests and my prescription is very static, hadn't changed much over 10 years (I'm 30) so I doubt it's a huge eyesight deterioration

I think my new car has those blinding headlights, I keep getting flashed. I’m finding it really embarrassing! It’s going in to the garage in a couple of weeks for something else but I’m going to ask if there a way to dim them.

Led lights are becoming more common. People, by which I mean men, also often put brighter illegal bulbs in, then swap them out at mot time.

Yes they are, 'apparently' there's no law to restrict brightness and newer cars are all fitted with ultra bright halogens etc. They're more white than yellow and very intense. It's about time restrictions were brought in.

You have to be careful with driving threads on here as generally someone will come along and say 'you shouldn't be driving if (insert driving problem you are having).

I rarely drive at night but last night I popped out to get some bits from Aldi and I was struck by how blinding people's car headlights were, they seem to be a bright white and aimed directly at my eyes. I was thinking maybe I need to goto the Opticians for a check up so quite relieved it's not just me!

They are painfully bright especially when the other car is higher up.

There should be a limit. It must be dangerous.

Your eyes adjust to the darkness letting in more light then you’re dazzled by too bright lights

Even my eleven year old commented on this the other day. Headlights are definitely brighter. I’m only 42 and hate driving at night now.

@Wombat49

Led lights are becoming more common. People, by which I mean men, also often put brighter illegal bulbs in, then swap them out at mot time.

There's a bloke in the next street whose headlamps are actually bright blue and migraine inducing. I didn't think that was allowed.

I agree @Riskyrice there are lots of cars with very bright headlights at the moment. I also love rurally and Country lanes are horrific at the moment.

I find the so called anti-glare coating on my glasses makes it much worse.

Horrible things they are, they absolutely dazzle me and I'm 43 and only have a mild prescription for reading glasses.

I get this too. My eyes are tested fully and I have the correct prescription glasses.

Bright white headlights coming towards me on the road after dark cause a whiteout, often even if they are on dip.

Ones from behind are no better. I have to dip my rearview mirror more often than not now if driving at night.

I try to avoid driving after dark now, and as my children are no longer teenagers wanting the taxi service of Mum and Dad I now mostly can do that.

Chelsea tractors and other large vehicles are the worst because of the height of their lights.

Dark motorways are horrific too when bright lights burn into my eyes.

They don't seem to be 'directed' as well as the old ones either. They point directly ahead, whereas the old ones were angled more towards the pavement.

Some are so bright, it makes seeing the ridiculously small indicator lights almost impossible.

They are definitely getting brighter. There is absolutely no need for how dazzling some of them are.