Blinded by the lights - night time driving

[Desperado40]

Is it me or has something happened recently - whenever I drive at night, I am literally blinded by the lights coming from the other drivers cars. I can't figure out if this is because:
A) some newer car models have brighter lights
B) drivers forget to switch the full beam when passing
C) both
Anyone else noticed this?

I have noticed this, and I think it is mostly A.

A I think 🧐

It's A

I've seen claims on here before that laods of people drive around using main beams - maybe it's regional but I never see more than the very very occasional person using main beams.

Aside from modern cars with retina-searing lights, there are a lot around here with illegally modified lights. There is zero Police enforcement of course.

Lights have got brighter.

Also get your eyesight checked

Definitely A. I'm actually losing my confidence with driving at night.

Agree. I thought it was my eyes for a while, but definitely much harder to see - especially on A Roads at night with no street lighting. I have found myself keeping my eyeline down a bit and looking three 'cat's eyes ahead' and no further. I'm sure that's not ideal but feel completely blinded if I look into the traffic. HAve started to avoid night driving on motorways whenever possible for exactly that reason.

I know some people swear by orange tinted glasses. I haven't tried it personally as I drive wearing varifocals, so it's out of my price range to try it and see if it works.
If you have 20/20 vision it might be worth a shot.
I drive a car with ridiculously bright headlights and am dazzled by them myself.

I think it's led lights plus drivers not knowing how to adjust the tilt.

Plus as you get older your can't deal with direct light so well.

Apparently glasses with a yellow tint can help with the latter. A couple of my friends have them and they say it makes a difference.

A.

when it first started there were posters on here saying people were flashing them thinking the6 had main beam on but it’s just their led lights.

Its awful, I avoid driving in the dark as much as possible and am considering shelling out for night time anti glare driving glasses.

I really struggle with this as I drive a lot on very narrow but dual lane country roads & it feels terrifying being blinded by the oncoming cars. I wear glasses, don’t know if this makes it worse?

Lots of cars have auto dimming now and I think they dim later then a human would.

im the same. Bright lights cause migraines for me. It’s the same with all the autos and people sitting with brake lights on.

A and
Have you got older or even, cataracts?

I really struggle with this, especially as my job involves night time call-outs. So many over-bright headlights 😭

LED lights are a problem generally tbh. The street lights with them keep the birds awake at night and if birds don't get enough sleep it shortens their lives.

I noticed that my eyes were drawn to oncoming headlights, so now I make a concerted effort to concentrate on my side of the road ahead.

I'm amazed those bright lights are legal.

Absolutely! I've had to stop driving at night because of this problem 😡

www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/nearly-one-in-four-drivers-think-most-car-headlights-are-too-bright

It’s mostly A. Plus if you’re in a hatchback the lights of SUVs are right in your eyes. Conditions like astigmatism don’t help, and astigmatism often gets worse with age. Get your eyes tested and make sure any prescription is up to date. Also make sure your windscreen is spotlessly clean inside and out. If you’re starting to get dazzled glance to the left and focus on the kerb/line until the light is out of your eye line. Also put your visor down and see if that helps.

I suffer with this. The bright headlights blow my pupils open then I can't see anything for a split second afterward. Frightening. I've just been to the opticians too and just a +0.25 in one eye and nothing else wrong.

I might get down anti glare glasses and give them a go.

Research suggested those yellow tinted specs actually make it harder to see.

I learned recently that some cars have an auto setting for the high beam. I drove a car where every time I started the engine the auto high beam setting was on, even if I'd switched it off on the last journey. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if many drivers aren't aware that their car has that feature. I think some cars with that feature don't respond quickly enough to the lights of the oncoming traffic, and so will momentarily dazzle the oncoming driver as they come round the bend.

It's a real problem. They are too bright.

Definitely A and worse if you are in a normal car and they're at eye level in an SUV.

Combined with a decline in my night vision as I age, I am also reluctant to drive in unfamiliar areas at night now.

Stating the obvious but a crystal clear windscreen inside and out does help a little.

I wear prism lenses and have one pair with antiglare and one pair without. The coating does really make a difference.

It's usually A, plus another issue is that a significantly higher number of cars are SUVs - if you're driving a car or 'regular' height, cars with higher lights will bother you more (especially in rear view mirrors or side mirrors)

Astigmatism can also affect the glare you get from car lights so it is worth getting your eyes checked as others have mentioned.