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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:
jaundicedoutlook · 14/11/2021 23:32

Not quite sure what people expect on this thread. I’ll prepare to be berated as the driver of an X5 with no ability to adjust the self-levelling headlights without opening the bonnet and whipping out a screwdriver. Should I…

  1. Buy another car in case I happen to momentarily dazzle Mildred in her Hyundai?
  2. Purchase everyone in the neighbourhood a pair of Seeley spot welding goggles for when I’m driving towards them?
  3. Not drive after sundown, just in case?
  4. Strap a large heavy weight, e.g. livestock, to my bonnet?

Honestly. Can I suggest some of the complaints here write to their MPs? Green ink optional.

Sparklingbrook · 14/11/2021 23:33

@HannibalHayeski

Also, why do you need a fucking tank. Get a car.
Confused Why is @IreneSmith not allowed to have any vehicle they want?
Helpstopthepain · 14/11/2021 23:35

I drive a lot at night and really notice it if I’ve not got my glasses on (anti glare coating). In the rain is the worst!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Driving & parking General health
Rummikub · 14/11/2021 23:35

What does self levelling mean though?

It sounds like a feature that adjusts as your driving. But is it not taking into account drivers in cars that are lower down?

IreneSmith · 14/11/2021 23:35

@HannibalHayeski

Again, for the 3rd time im pointing out, there is a little "i" icon in that sentence and it says "only for halogen bulbs".

If you scroll down that page, it points out clearly the diall is not there for LED lights. End of. Are you being difficult or are you just not paying attention?

As to why XC60 - I wanted an SUV that does 0-62 in 6.8 secs, looks stylish, is a reasonable/prestige brand, reliable, safe for passengers and practical for transporting goods (furniture, plants, etc).

Sparklingbrook · 14/11/2021 23:35

Buy another car in case I happen to momentarily dazzle Mildred in her Hyundai?

That's oddly specific. Why 'Mildred' and why does it need to be a Hyundai? Is it an i10 or a Tucson she's driving?

Rummikub · 14/11/2021 23:37

To those that are saying they can’t adjust their headlights do you get dazzled my other drivers cars? Or that it’s a problem for other road users?

HannibalHayeski · 14/11/2021 23:37

"As to why XC60 - I wanted an SUV that does 0-62 in 6.8 secs, looks stylish, is a reasonable/prestige brand, reliable, safe for passengers and practical for transporting goods (furniture, plants, etc)."

And thereby we have global warming...

IreneSmith · 14/11/2021 23:39

@Rummikub

What does self levelling mean though?

It sounds like a feature that adjusts as your driving. But is it not taking into account drivers in cars that are lower down?

Tbh, te reason why i knew i couldnt adjust it is because mine were always levelling quite low / at least compared to my prior saloon cars; and I wanted to put it higher (but can't).

I guess it means it takes into account height of car and angle, vs the road.

Rummikub · 14/11/2021 23:39

I’m laying the blame on car manufacturers and the selling of those bright bulbs.

Rummikub · 14/11/2021 23:40

“ I guess it means it takes into account height of car and angle, vs the road.”

I wonder if it factors in height of other cars

RaisedByPangolins · 14/11/2021 23:47

@traka

The key is to be aware of them but don't look straight at them

A HGV driver said this and its a good tip

I find myself mesmerised by them looking straight at them while swearing at the oncoming driver Grin

I’m also astounded by how many only have one working light. My drive to work is only half an hour but I usually see at least 5 - sometimes up to 10 cars with a single working lamp.

TheBullfinch · 14/11/2021 23:47

@Naughtynovembertree

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
Couldnt agree more.

My office, post fitting of LED lights, looks like an operating theatre, likewise my kitchen, despite being assured that the lights were 'warm' white.

IreneSmith · 15/11/2021 00:03

@traka

The key is to be aware of them but don't look straight at them

A HGV driver said this and its a good tip

I have the same ethos regarding mums who wear pyjamas on the school run. Halloween Grin
Sunbird24 · 15/11/2021 00:12

I can’t adjust the headlamps on my silly little sports car either, so it’s not just the big ones that applies to! I both get dazzled by other drivers as well as occasionally get flashed so assume that despite being very low down my headlights are rather bright. They’re definitely angled correctly though, as on a flat road they’re not lighting up anything above the number plate/front grille of oncoming traffic - sadly none of the roads round here are that flat, so sometimes some dazzling happens.

TheSilveryPussycat · 15/11/2021 00:19

@Mischance

I have short sight, astigmatism and mild cataracts. Opticians keep telling me that it is fine to drive. But night time is just a nightmare (!) now - the lights are undoubtedly brighter and I feel totally blinded by oncoming cars at night. I live in the country and to be honest prefer the lanes as there are so few approaching cars.

At night I only do short drives on familiar routes. It is very limiting on my life.

I do think that there should be some legal limits on brightness of car headlights - or, if there are already rules, then they need to be tightened up.

Same here, my vision is OK for driving atm, according to optician, but I too have short sight, astigmatism and am developing cateracts. Am late 60s.

In a way, I am glad to hear that headlights have actually got brighter, because it means that I am not as decrepit as I thought...

Yuledo · 15/11/2021 00:25

I find the red tail lights more of a problem nowadays than the headlights.

anon12345678901 · 15/11/2021 06:27

@HannibalHayeski

Also, why do you need a fucking tank. Get a car.
Why is it your business what car someone drives?
Laiste · 15/11/2021 08:30

My old BMer was very low slung and for 15 years i was dazzled terribly by just about everything else on the road! Worse and worse in the last 5/10 years.

In that car I was flashed at a lot though (as if i'd got my high beams on) and yet i regularly checked the thumbwheel to make sure the lights were aimed as low as they'd go.

Now i drive a much higher car with bright modern lights but i'm never flashed at Confused It too has a thumbwheel and again I keep it pointed down as far as poss again.

In the dark it's easy to see the lights raise and lower when you fiddle with the wheel. Stands to reason that having them as low as they'll go will be the least dazzling option.

90% of my driving is on pitch black country lanes and fast A roads with no lighting. Being higher up does help - but i'm still dazzled sometimes. And bastards that drive right up your arse with their brights on lighting up the inside of your car need shooting.

IreneSmith · 15/11/2021 08:40

@anon12345678901

I think its because there is a lot of hate for SUV's on MN, lol. No idea why.

Despite the fact that a lot of SUVs are usually shorter than modern saloon cars, and are usually a similar width (maybe 1-5 cm more at most). E.g. BMW 3 series is longer than a Volvo XC60.

Sparklingbrook · 15/11/2021 08:56

@HannibalHayeski

"As to why XC60 - I wanted an SUV that does 0-62 in 6.8 secs, looks stylish, is a reasonable/prestige brand, reliable, safe for passengers and practical for transporting goods (furniture, plants, etc)."

And thereby we have global warming...

Blimey @IreneSmith you are personally responsible for climate change. Shock
littledrummergirl · 15/11/2021 09:11

Yep, I struggle at night. I clipped a kerb on a bend on the weekend after being dazzled by an oncoming car who's lights were ridiculously bright. Even dd(17) and learning to drive, struggled at that point and commented on how bright some lights were-that one in particular but also others.

I'm thinking I may have to stop driving at night full stop because of this. It definitely seems to be more of an issue in the last few years.

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 15/11/2021 09:30

@jaundicedoutlook

Not quite sure what people expect on this thread. I’ll prepare to be berated as the driver of an X5 with no ability to adjust the self-levelling headlights without opening the bonnet and whipping out a screwdriver. Should I…
  1. Buy another car in case I happen to momentarily dazzle Mildred in her Hyundai?
  2. Purchase everyone in the neighbourhood a pair of Seeley spot welding goggles for when I’m driving towards them?
  3. Not drive after sundown, just in case?
  4. Strap a large heavy weight, e.g. livestock, to my bonnet?

Honestly. Can I suggest some of the complaints here write to their MPs? Green ink optional.

How about just trying to drive with some consideration for other road users? Including not right up the tail of those who don’t drive tanks?
YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 15/11/2021 09:32

@Sparklingbrook

Buy another car in case I happen to momentarily dazzle Mildred in her Hyundai?

That's oddly specific. Why 'Mildred' and why does it need to be a Hyundai? Is it an i10 or a Tucson she's driving?

My name isn’t Mildred 🙄
Snailhaterz2 · 15/11/2021 09:34

Yes! I drive a smallish car and do quite a lot of rural driving. Its unrealistic for me not to drive at night, but it really pisses me off. It's a combination of big high cars, and also idiots who drive with their fog lights on at all times. Even if we accept we can't do anything about the former, perhaps a bit of a crack-down on the fog light thing might help?

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