to think some headlights nowadays are TOO bright?

[JammyGem]

Does anyone else find that a lot of headlights on newer cars are too bright and just blind you? I used to just have a problem with those blue tinged ones that blinded me, but now it's more and more. Driving home tonight both DH and I were having trouble because the cat behind us had such bright lights. It also seems to be more cars have their lights angled right upwards too.

I get it's better for the drivers of those cars, but surely it must cause accidents when others are dazzled by them? Or AIBU and need to get my eyes looked at?

omg I've found my people! I totally agree!

my eyes are bad anyway (obviously I wear suitable glasses) but i find myself sometimes on the verge of panicking when there's a stream of oncoming vehicles - i just can't see! I go a long way to avoid driving at night, but at the moment I'm starting work in the dark and leaving in the dark so it's unavoidable.

Great for the driver I'm sure 🙄🙄 wish there were rules for car manufacturers on brightness and what type of bulb can be used

Yes! Felt this for years. Thought my eyes were too sensitive. Feels like someone has their full beams on! Ooh it gives me the rage.

YANBU

I really struggle too. I struggle with bright lights anyway, but find its getting harder driving at night! There really should be some rules about it.

I hate them. My car is very low and on unlit roads I feel blinded some car lights. It has totally put me off driving at night.

I'm seriously considering looking for a new job because of this. My journey to & from work is only 20 minutes either way but the bright lights & huge increase of 4x4s are blinding me for most of the journey home. I live & work rurally and need the car during the day for work visits so commuting by bus is not an option.

Yes and it's getting worse.

Yes. I really struggle with them. So dangerous as for a few seconds de I am completely blinded.

Yes.

I used to love nighttime driving and would plan my journeys for later at night but nowadays I can't bear it.

I agree that they're so dangerous and distracting!

Yes they really are too bright.

If you find people are flashing you when you've turned your full beam off, take your car to the garage and tell them to sort it out.

And if you are following me along a road without street lights can you not turn on your full beam please. If I don't need it, you don't.

YANBU.

I find this too. We have country roads by us which I use frequently and I am frequently blinded by cars that have far too bright lights. That being said there are also the drivers who seemingly cannot drive these roads without their high beams on, which is ridiculous as you really don’t need them, especially at dawn. Don’t get me started on the ones who don’t even bother to turn their high beams off at they drive towards you

In towns and cities I think the problem is exacerbated by the fact that streetlights are so much weaker / darker, and there are fewer of them, so the general atmosphere is darker to start with, and so the headlights seem even more dazzling by comparison

I don't actually have a problem where there are street lights. I don't like night-time driving at all but if there are street lights I am ok. The other week I had to collect ds from south west London so to avoid the M3 in the dark I used the A30 instead which has street lights all the way. Didn't like the stretch by Staines reservoir though (on the A308) - nasty. Cats' eyes are rubbish there!

Agree. To get to my village the three roads out are all unlit country roads. There are a lot of SUVs & i really hate being constantly dazzled by them.

I had to pull over to allow a 4x4 to pass on a country road last night as every slight bump in the road made it look like they were flashing me.

I hate led lights and they're worse when the car is higher than you

Is there any regulation on the strength of headlights? Also, possibly stupid question, but can you get lower wattage (?) bulbs to reduce the brightness if you do have really bright headlights?

Glad it’s not just me. Even worse is when they flash you to say thanks and you unwittingly get free laser eye surgery!

I agree. I don't like bike lights either.

Ah I thought it was me getting old. Never used to have a problem but don't like driving at night now.

Wow. A unanimous verdict! YANBU OP.

As a cyclist and pedestrian, I totally agree. I find it especially hard to see indicators alongside those bright headlights (not helped by a lot of them being so small these days!) and have almost come to grief several times now.

I also have a problem with bright daylight running lights. It seems that research shows they have a beneficial effect in reducing accidents, but I find them dazzling, disorientating and again that they obscure indicator lights. Probably IABU about this latter one, though!

Another one here to say agree agree agree. I live rurally (no street lights at all) and it makes driving int he dark very difficult indeed. I suppose though, if you have one of the offending cars, you either don't know the issues it can cause or don't care (as you can see your way very well).

I'm surprised there aren't stricter rules about it.

I'm told these are great for reducing glare.
www.amazon.co.uk/Gritin-Sunglasses-2-Pack-Flip-Up-Polarised-Yellow/dp/B07CSVQ1DG/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=yellow%2Blens%2Bdriving%2Bnight%2Bvision%2Bglasses&th=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1575485227&sr=8-10

Mine aren't bright enough, I really struggle to see the road when my main beam is dipped.

YANBU. In fact I think the rules in France at least (probably other European countries too?) say you need to adjust your headlights for driving there.

It's LED lights which are the problem. In urban driving sidelights alone should be enough. You don't need headlights on.

I find it especially hard to see indicators alongside those bright headlights

A very good point, I've noticed this too.

Yes some cycle lights are too bright too, and although I think runners need hi-vis when out at night, I don't like the bright headtorches some of them are using (in areas with street lights and pavements, it's a different thing on unlit country lanes without paths).

As for daylight running lights, I had not had them until I got my current car and didn't realise they aren't lit up at the back! So I went out, could see perfectly well in the dark and wondered why a couple of people flashed me! Doh.