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?

So glad its not just me.

I was driving on unlit country A roads last night and I had to keep breaking as I was dazzled by oncoming car headlights.

It’s the bright cold white ones. I also find that people are replacing their own but not aligning them so youve got one that points down and one that points up. I also agree on the 4x4s behind you. Ridiculous.

Thanks @ClementineWardobe

Just on a point of information - is it common knowledge that if you put your handbrake on (at traffic lights etc) your brake lights go out? So there's no need for anyone to sit with foot in brake annoying the driver behind, as has been mentioned upthread.

I cycle to/from work through a poorly-lit sports centre, my little front light just lets me see where I'm going, but I have to stop when a cyclist comes towards me with one of those industrial front lights on - I just can't see where I'm going while I'm outside their pool of light, or for a few moments after they've gone! All fine and dandy for them but dangerous for others. An emblem for the worst of the 21st century....

Hate them too. It always looks like they have their main beam lights on. But they don't, they dazzle so much it is frightening. I have no choice but to drive at night coming home from work, and hate it.

RAC have done some research and apparently it's a widespread problem. Nothing has been done about it though.

YANBU, I live rurally and am well used to driving country roads in dark conditions, but even I've had more panicky moments than I'd like to admit - going round a windy road when you're blinded and cant see the bends is not fun!

So, so hate this. I’m another that has had migraines triggered by them in the past.

I’m very happy I don’t really need to drive at night much these days.

Maybe all cars should have auto levelling lights?

I signed a petition about them last year but it wasn't doing too well
I hate night driving now

don't get me started on people who sit with their brake lights on at lights that are obviously going to take a while to change, just put your handbrake on ffs

Not all cars have handbrakes nowadays, they might just have electronic parking brakes and those are solely for parking, not constant use at functions etc as they don’t always release quickly

Part of the problem is that no one checks their light alignment anymore.
I run a garage and the amount of cars we fail for the head light pattern being obviously incorrect has definetley increased over the years, but then so have failures for all basic checks (no washer fluid, bulbs out, illegal tyres etc).

YANBU, it's been this way for the past couple of years. Sadly I have to drive in the dark all the time for about four months out of every year and I haaaate it.

Not all cars have handbrakes nowadays, they might just have electronic parking brakes and those are solely for parking, not constant use at functions etc as they don’t always release quickly

The 'handbrake' has always been called the 'parking brake' officially.

Elecronic ones should be used exactly the same way as the old manual (hand) ones.

Eh.. you can use the clutch instead of the foot break at lights most of the time to keep yourself still. I'm really not bothered by break lights though when I drive, maybe I sit high enough to not be so affected?

Automatics don’t have clutches.

My DH and I work at the same place but don't finish at the same time so we take two cars. We drive to work in convoy usually and if he's behind me his lights blind me every time I look in the mirror!

He has a brand new 4 wheel drive thing and I swear the lights are way brighter than the ones on my older small car.

Next week I will vote for the party that sorts this out, and has a nationwide programme of installing decent cats' eyes. They make SUCH a difference.

It can't be that difficult to say to manufacturers that if they want to sell cars in the UK they have to conform with a certain standard for lights. Is this an issue in other EU countries? If not, why not?

don't get me started on people who sit with their brake lights on at lights that are obviously going to take a while to change, just put your handbrake on

Not sure why this is really an issue (other than the safety issues of being much more stable if you have your handbrake on). But red lights are far less of an issue than bright white ones.

It can't be that difficult to say to manufacturers that if they want to sell cars in the UK they have to conform with a certain standard for lights.
Actually, it is. The UK tried this in 1985 and the EU took us to court and won. We cannot do this any more.

As far as saying you’ll vote for the party that sorts this out - that would have to be one of the Brexity ones.

@Buccanarab that's interesting, I asked my sis a few weeks back to look at whether my headlights were adjusted to the right level (she's an experienced and sensible driver) so she set the level with me. Could you explain what you mean by the pattern and how it fails? I'm very conscious of driving safely, including not dazzling others.

I have a fairly new car so have the super bright headlights (sorry!) but my car is a very low sports type and I am regularly blinded around here by the millions of 4x4s as their new super dazzle lights are exactly in my eye line.

It's so dangerous, how can it be allowed? It is mandatory! The rules about cars and lights are utterly contradictory.

Yes, dangerous, should be regulated.