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Original poster

Are headlights getting even brighter or is it me?!

214 replies

Riskyrice · 14/11/2021 17:51

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?

OP posts:
TolkiensFallow · 14/11/2021 21:30

Definitely brighter. Total stigmatise nightmare

Clymene · 14/11/2021 21:32

[quote Simonjt]@BertieBotts Headlights need adjusting frequently, if you usually drive alone and have adjusted them correctly, you would need to adjust them if you had four passengers, or even a heavy load in the vehicle.

If you aren’t adjusting them you are likely guilty of dazzling other road users.[/quote]
Really? You expect people to adjust their headlights - which according to this guide requires:

1	Park on level ground, 50cm from a dark wall or a garage door, with the front of the car facing the wall. Confirm your car is on level ground by using a spirit level on the side of the vehicle, for example on the doorframe or roof.
2	Level your car by removing any excess weight from your boot and ensuring the tyre pressure in all tyres is at the manufacturer’s recommended PSI levels (check your owner’s manuals for this). If you have headlight aim adjustment wheel, move it to the zero position. And, if possible, ask someone to sit in the drivers’ seat, clean your windscreen and make sure that the fuel tank is half full.
3	Measure the distance from the ground to the headlights to ensure the suspension is level.
4	Check the inclination value on the headlight. It’s usually on the shell of the reflector. 1% means the low beam tilts 10cm for every 10m, and 1.2% means the low beam tilts 12cm for every 10m.

Every single time they drive on their own after having carried passengers? Bollocks.

This isn't anything to do with the angle of headlights. It's new cars with dazzling bright LED bulbs.

toodalooda · 14/11/2021 21:35

Oh same! I thought it was just me. Sometimes i have to stop as i cannot see when oncoming vehicle dazzles me with their headlights

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Driving & parking General health
tiredanddangerous · 14/11/2021 21:36

I completely agree. I have to do a rural drive once a week and it's dreadful. I think the lack of street lights on rural roads make it much worse.

Sparklingbrook · 14/11/2021 21:37

I agree @Clymene I don't think it's anything to do with the angle, it's the light are too bright. It might be 'the rules' to adjust your headlamps every trip according to the weight carried in the car I have never seen anyone actually do it.
What if you pick up 4 people when you go out? That's a lot of checking each time somebody gets in and out, not to mention carrying your trusty spirit level at all times.

HannibalHayeski · 14/11/2021 21:38

Really? You expect people to adjust their headlights - which according to this guide requires:

1Park on level ground, 50cm from a dark wall or a garage door, with the front of the car facing the wall. Confirm your car is on level ground by using a spirit level on the side of the vehicle, for example on the doorframe or roof.
2Level your car by removing any excess weight from your boot and ensuring the tyre pressure in all tyres is at the manufacturer’s recommended PSI levels (check your owner’s manuals for this). If you have headlight aim adjustment wheel, move it to the zero position.
And, if possible, ask someone to sit in the drivers’ seat, clean your windscreen and make sure that the fuel tank is half full.
3Measure the distance from the ground to the headlights to ensure the suspension is level.
4Check the inclination value on the headlight. It’s usually on the shell of the reflector. 1% means the low beam tilts 10cm for every 10m, and 1.2% means the low beam tilts 12cm for every 10m.

Every single time they drive on their own after having carried passengers? Bollocks.

Or: - just work out where your adjustment dial is, and try it while you're out driving and use your judgment assuming you have a semblance of a brain to set it to an appropriate level...

3luckystars · 14/11/2021 21:38

I’m noticing this too and the lights seem to have a brighter blue tint to them, I absolutely love driving but am finding night driving harder and harder.

The trucks are still fine but the car lights are blinding now.

Clymene · 14/11/2021 21:44

Do all new cars have headlight adjustment dials @HannibalHayeski? If they do, it doesn't appear that people know that or that they think they have an issue, judging by the posts on this thread.

The people who have said that they have blinded people don't appear to think there is anything wrong with their headlights.

Confused

And I've been driving nearly 40 years. This is definitely an issue with LED lamps.

PivotPivotPivottt · 14/11/2021 21:47

I got anti glare coating on my glasses last Winter for this reason but it made zero difference. I only discovered a couple of days ago the switch on the interior mirror to stop the glare from the headlights behind me but I struggle with the ones coming towards me.

I was driving down a dark back road last week and forgot to switch off my full beam when a car came towards me (this is only my second year of driving and I've rarely had to use full beam so was a stupid slip of the mind but I hold my hands up for my mistake). They waited until they got right close to me then switched there's on obviously in retaliation. Fair enough as I was in the wrong but a quick flash would have made me realise and their car was a high up SUV with bright white LED lights which were probably brighter on dipped beam than what my full beam is on my older car!

Sunshineandrainbow · 14/11/2021 21:48

I thought it was me as my car is tiny compared to some.
My dad taught me to glance down to left of road when car is on coming at night and this is easier if there is a white line to glance at.

HannibalHayeski · 14/11/2021 21:59

@Clymene

Do all new cars have headlight adjustment dials *@HannibalHayeski*? If they do, it doesn't appear that people know that or that they think they have an issue, judging by the posts on this thread.

The people who have said that they have blinded people don't appear to think there is anything wrong with their headlights.

Confused

And I've been driving nearly 40 years. This is definitely an issue with LED lamps.

I'm pretty sure that all new cars (mine is over 10 years old and has it) have this function.

But most people don't care if they are blinding other people, only if other people are blinding them...

Tomnooktoldmeto · 14/11/2021 22:01

I had the same problem with head lights 2 years ago just before the start of the pandemic as I turned 50

Turned out I had developed a condition called Fuchs endothelial dystrophy and the halo effect of lights was a symptom. Sadly I will eventually lose my sight and need a bilateral corneal transplant because of it

At the moment my vision is only affected in the evening but the halo effect happens all day long now

IreneSmith · 14/11/2021 22:04

@HannibalHayeski

Most old and mud age cars have a dial to adjust halogen headlamp.

A lot of newer cars with LED headlights ate bot adjustable! E.g. Volvo xc60 2019 LED headlights

IreneSmith · 14/11/2021 22:05

Oh and LED headlights are standard on a lot of good cars!

glumbum38 · 14/11/2021 22:05

I've just ordered some anti-glare lenders for my glasses, for this very reason. It doesn't feel safe!

IreneSmith · 14/11/2021 22:05

*are not

glumbum38 · 14/11/2021 22:06

*lenses

Rummikub · 14/11/2021 22:09

@IreneSmith

Oh and LED headlights are standard on a lot of good cars!
But the lights are awful for other road users
HannibalHayeski · 14/11/2021 22:14

[quote IreneSmith]@HannibalHayeski

Most old and mud age cars have a dial to adjust halogen headlamp.

A lot of newer cars with LED headlights ate bot adjustable! E.g. Volvo xc60 2019 LED headlights[/quote]
Did you not read my post above? Look at the fucking Volvo website;

www.volvocars.com/en-th/support/manuals/xc60/2018w17/lighting/exterior-lighting/adjusting-headlamp-level

Naughtynovembertree · 14/11/2021 22:16

Op they are absolutely horrendous.

Utterly blinding how are they allowed in thei
roads.

Naughtynovembertree · 14/11/2021 22:17

Led lights are bloody awful in the nearly evry single setting.
They are far too bright and too harsh and ruin kixthen lighting, Xmas lighting etc

lljkk · 14/11/2021 22:18

I've never not once felt remotely dazzled by anyone's brake lights. That claim intrigues me.

Discussion on Oncoming headlights is interesting.

HalzTangz · 14/11/2021 22:22

I have some night driving glasses, they are great for reducing the glare

Sparklingbrook · 14/11/2021 22:24

@lljkk

I've never not once felt remotely dazzled by anyone's brake lights. That claim intrigues me.

Discussion on Oncoming headlights is interesting.

Happened to me yesterday. They were sooo bright. The big one that ran along the top of the back window especially, and I wasn't particularly close behind them.
Toddlerteaplease · 14/11/2021 22:29

I couldn't agree more OP. I hate them.