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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think some headlights nowadays are TOO bright?

201 replies

JammyGem · 04/12/2019 18:01

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?

OP posts:
Stupiddriver1 · 04/12/2019 18:50

The rules for FrNCE Are because they drive on the other side of the road. Our headlights don't actually point straight ahead, but slightly to the left. Fine here, not so much in France, etc.

BurMaMa2 · 04/12/2019 18:52

I'm so pleased this has been raised! I thought it was me getting old and anxious : I regularly drive after dark on narrow twisty rural lanes. I hate being terrorised by the over bright headlamps on vehicles that have started using it as rat run due to major motorway roadworks and the traffic jams they are causing. Motorised entitled bullies.

nitgel · 04/12/2019 18:54

Hate this too. Also they always seem to drive right over the centre line so drive straight at me in the pitch black. So i have to brake all the time. i bloody hate big cars

thecatsthecats · 04/12/2019 18:55

It is really surprising that this isn't a regulated feature for cars for all forms of lighting, in terms of visibility for your signals and the light you put out too.

I'd add those daft trendy indicators that phase in and out.

lynxca16 · 04/12/2019 18:55

Yes, count me in - its not the driving at night in a rural area I really dislike but being blinded by what looks and feels like full beam headlights from 4*4s . It doesn't seem to matter if they are approaching or behind, the effect is the same - its dazzling and makes driving so difficult.
Car designers take note - we would like headlights but not spotlights!
Glad its not just me, as for this reason only I don't drive after 4pm in the winter months

NearlyOutedMyself · 04/12/2019 18:56

I'm glad its not just me. I drive a small car and regularly get dazzled by oncoming traffic or the beams from behind. It's especially painful down unlit rural roads when your eyes have got 'night vision' then suddenly it's pure light. I get that they want to see where they're going but so do I after we've passed each other!

Baboomtsk · 04/12/2019 18:56

Ab-so-lutely. Far too bright. The worst is when you're driving on dark and unfamiliar country road and there's a local impatiently driving right behind you in a 4x4. They blind you with the glare of their lights and slow you down even more.

Boireannachlaidir · 04/12/2019 18:58

A lot of this is caused by the fact that car lights (in newer cars) adjust their brightness automatically with the motion of the steering wheel and they also light up the side of the road and curve around. They also dip/dim according to sensors/cameras rather than human action.

If they are driving behind you and too high/bright you need to flip up your mirror. If they're coming towards you I don't know the answer...

Littleunicorndreams · 04/12/2019 18:59

Another one who is glad that it isnt just me. I really thought my eyesight had gone tonight as I couldnt see the road at all. A narrow 30 mph road with no lights which is really busy - everyone else speeding and a stream of those LED headlights coming the other way.

I got told today that there is no work for me after Christmas and part of me is just really glad I won’t have to drive that way after work...

Cadburymarbles · 04/12/2019 19:01

Oh my god yes!!!

So glad its not just me. I’m starting to hate driving in the dark.

damnthatanxiety · 04/12/2019 19:02

This comes up on MN every year. They are very bright.

UnderHisEyeBall · 04/12/2019 19:03

Yep, I actually had problems on the motor way the other night with the reflection of bright lights from cars behind me in my wing mirrors. Really off putting.

Plus SUV ankers sat at the side of the road with their lights on. They are so dazzling it takes a moment to realise they are stationary which cant be safe.

Fr0g · 04/12/2019 19:04

I don't help - most used to driving in central London, always forgetting to turn my headlights down when I'm driving in country - just so unused to not having streetlights.

Also hate it when someone is behind you in roads with speedhumps - flash on and off as the vehicle goes up and down.

SentimentalKiller · 04/12/2019 19:04

And me. The LED lights are especially bad but with so many 4x4 about they are worse
I hate night driving now
I've considered trying those yellow glasses. The research says they don't make a difference but reviews are good

TriangularRatbag · 04/12/2019 19:07

I'd repeat: in urban areas they should be driving on sidelights only.

Highway Code
Para 113
You MUST use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h)

Para 114
You MUST NOT use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders

allthesharks · 04/12/2019 19:10

I passed my driving test last week and I hate driving when it's dark because of this. I never had any lessons when it was dark so I never realised how bright some lights are but it's horrible. I'm glad it's not just me overreacting as a new driver.

BanjoStarz · 04/12/2019 19:12

I thinks it’s exacerbated by the fact that so many new cars are fitted with automatic high beams - the sensors are calibrated to LED light strength so don’t always pick up the older orange/yellow lights on oncoming vehicles so don’t dip the headlights.

Of course, some people are just inconsiderate dicks.

Irishgene · 04/12/2019 19:16

YANBU! I'm constantly thinking people have got their full beam on, what's the point in the lights being so bright???

Whatsnewpussyhat · 04/12/2019 19:17

Yep. Those horrid cold white, super bright led lights.

I was stuck in a queue in my small car with a big SUV behind me. Couldn't see a bloody thing.

Apolloanddaphne · 04/12/2019 19:18

I agree too and I suspect I drive one of those cars. I am always being flashed as people think I have my full beam on but I don't. There is nothing I can do about it until I change my car, but I hate that I am dazzling people as I drive. Luckily I pretty much only go out at night once a week!

PlutoAjder · 04/12/2019 19:22

I never used to have this problem

But it's got really really bad in the last 5-10 years, it's so dangerous, and yet these new headlights seem legal and even more common?!

I used to just get blinded by the highblue ones,now I try and avoid night driving!!!!

Hingeandbracket · 04/12/2019 19:22

Around here there are a lot of cars and vans fitted with illegal HID and LED conversions which are dazzling - as well as people with badly adjusted lights and the ones who don’t know what that little wheel is for on the dashboard when they have extra people in he back. All in all no fun. It’s a shame we don’t have more Police so they could enforce the law.

As far as regulations go, all car headlights have to be EU approved so the new ones are legal albeit unpleasant.

Kiki275 · 04/12/2019 19:23

I hate when you get a big white van stop right up your backside at a red light and you get the beam hitting both wing mirrors and your rear view 😫 x

Excited101 · 04/12/2019 19:23

I never knew urban areas were side lights only!!

Totally agree about many being too bright, it’s crazy.

ColdRainAgain · 04/12/2019 19:27

I teresting.
I've been out of the UK for a number of years, and havn't done any night driving in that time.
The last few weeks, I've hated it. Thought ut was just going to take some adjusting to, but seems like adjusting might only sort half the problem.....