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?

YANBU, I nearly ran off the road the other night when a SUV pulled out opposite me and totally blinded me with their super powered lamps, Honest to god the thing was like a frigging space ship! I think it's really dangerous, and WHY do they need like that driving around a city that's already well lit.

Automatics don’t have clutches Solid point!

Agree.

It’s so bad I dread having to drive after dark and also get blinded by bicycles.

It’s gone really bad recently.

So glad to read this. I was getting really worried about my night vision.

Yes, dangerous, should be regulated On new cars it is the regulations that are to blame!

Yes I was blinded yesterday by a car in the opposite direction and didn’t even see a motorbike next to him overtaking in my lane because the lights basically made the motorbike invisible. It’s so dangerous

I also hate the flashing ones cyclists have.

Same here. My route home from work is unlit single carriageway, I am constantly being blinded.

Apparently the flashing lights on bicycles make them more visible from the side. But in my opinion it's not worth it because they blind the fuck out of any motorist coming head on. It's dangerous as hell and they should be banned! Reflective gear, straight non-flashing lights, that's what cyclists need. I can cope with red-flashing lights on the rear as they aren't so blinding.

@clymene apologies there's no brand on my yellow clip ons or on the case. V useful and ground to fit my glasses. If I get any further clues I'll update. It's not my regular optician for glasses.

@ClementineWardobe

The pattern is the shape of light cast by a headlight. During the MOT this is tested with a machine that measures that pattern. Image 1 shows a pass, the pattern is within the acceptable limits, and image 2 a fail, as the beam is now in the 'dazzle zone'.

The images are of a passengers side headlight only. The 'kick-up' to the left of the beam is only on the passenger side as it's meant to help illuminate the side of the road/pavement. The drivers side beam is supposed to have a more level pattern so it doesn't blind over drivers. Image 3 shows how it's meant to look on the road (albeit that image is for left hand drive cars, so it's the wrong way round for the UK).

If you look in your headlights (when they're off) you'll see a metal cone over the bulb. This is how they achieve the pattern. Over time they can become worn/lose, causing the pattern to change/fail.

Other reasons the pattern may be wrong is incorrectly fitted bulbs, worn holders or a broken leveller.

What it sounds like your sister did was use the leveller to adjust the beam height. Inside most cars there's a small dial number 0-3. This can be used to adjust the headlight beam from 0 (0% line in pics) down but if the leveller hasn't been set right, or wears it can result in your 0 being above the 0% line and again will blind other drivers.

Yep, me, too, but my car's headlights are shit, and I do have headlight envy to a small degree. My last car (same make and model) had brilliant headlights and I do so miss them, even 2 years on. I also drive a small car and frequently all I can see in my rearview mirror on a rural road I drive to and from work is someone else's headlights.

I totally agree, OP. I hate driving in the dark because of this, particularly on roads I don't know too well. I can't avoid it completely though as I have a teenage daughter still and she needs taken places, including if school are having things like parents evenings after school

Headlights on modern cars are just FAR TOO BRIGHT!!! They are blinding, more like bloody great floodlights, frequently don't dip well (if at all) and are dangerous.

This time of year is the worst too. The weather can make visibility bad, and it is now dark so early. It is even worse if you get fog at night.

As for indicators, I frequently can't see them either, so I am glad it isn't just me. They seem to be set within the headlights themselves now. Or so it seems. That just doesn't work for me, and it seems for many others too.

Mine are horribly bright. I know I must be dazzling people and I asked when I took it in for a service if anything could be done. I was told no, on the car I have there is no way to alter them.

I’ve just realised from this thread that my weekend migraines may be being caused by these buggers I only drive home in the dark on Fridays, and get home with a headache which a few times has worsened into a migraine. Only ever on a Friday. So many people are affected by these things. This can’t be ok!

Gary Could they change out the bulbs for some basic Halfords own brand? Does the trick on my car

@Buccanarab that's really bloomin" interesting thank you so much! I'd no idea about the headlight test being so comprehensive. I thought it sounded a bit daft failing the test cos someone hadn't twiddled the dial 0 to 3 correctly. I'm glad I asked! would be good to have a proper nerdy car thread, where car experts can answer questions and explain things properly. I'll admit to having asked the odd question on pistonheads forum.... It did not go well.
Thank you again 👍🏻

One interesting thing about LED lights is that they are not easy to dim, so the daytime running lights use pulse width modulation (they flick on and off really fast) to give the impression of being dimmer at night. DP claims to be able to see the flicker (I have no reason to doubt this). I suspect people who can see the LED flicker find it much more distracting (and possibly migraine inducing).

.......and the white lines painted on the roads to show the edge of the road and the centre have all worn off (round my rural neck of the woods) making it more difficult to navigate by them.

Does anyone else find that flashing blue xmas lights look like emergency vehicles so you start looking to get out the way and realise it just bloody xmas lights. That's annoying me atm.

Anyone else finding blue xmas lights flashing seems like emergency vehicles coming up?
That's starting to annoy me this year. Never noticed it before.

Totally agree. They're ridiculous and completely blinding. The worst is going around corners and/or up/down a hill with them coming towards you.

It was meant to be under review last year but I don't know what happened, it's a UN thing currently:

www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/meeting_docs_gre.html

I hate night driving because of this. I have an astigmatism which doesn’t help (possibly lots of posters also having issues do too?) and I’ve booked an eye test this week as I can’t work out if my eyes have got worse or there are just genuinely more cars with very aggressive headlights on the road.

I thought I was just being a grumpy bastard about this, but I'm glad to see I'm not alone. YANBU!