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?

Brighter lights, SUVs with higher lights. I hate driving at night now. Never used to have an issue but recognise my limitations. Have no issue on quiet country roads (until a car comes from opposite direction), no issue in town with streetlights but oncoming car lights are blinding and it's dangerous. So I try to avoid driving at night.

We signed one a few years ago! No car manufacturer wants to change, they argue there's a net benefit. I wouldn't drive on a motorway at night now if I could avoid it. I have yellow glasses -marginal improvement but I prefered the non LED ones, I think.

Dh is an hgv driver and works nights. He has this problem and wears yellow tinted glasses as deep a tint as they will go. Currently has varifocals, but did have single visions glasses tinted a deep yellow.
m They used to be called night time driving glasses - but now you just ask for your prescription glasses to have a yellow tint. It works.
(Although he looks like a 70s reject from a USA police drama)

Im a cyclist and having the same issue with car and bike lights - interested to hear this about orange specs!

Ooohhh this is interesting. I thought it was just me & I have astigmatism.
My prescription is up-to-date though and I have no probs with daytime etc.

💯 agree!
I think its mainly A

I drive a rather low-slung car and have largely stopped driving it at night in favour of DH's SUV where the seat is a lot higher. It's made worse by the lack of white lines and cats eyes on many of our roads. The new LED street lights don't help either by having bright pools of light interspersed with deep shadows.

It's awful- I drive 2 cars but both are low slung 'hatchbacks'- it is always SUVs that cause a problem. The lights are so bright but the position of them is the main thing. Do not drive in the dark now (lucky - live in a city with tons of taxis/buses and don't go out much at night anyhow!) The odd time I have driven I have felt unsafe so stopped.

It's A. Definitely.

It's a real issue for me and as a result I now avoid driving after dark. I hate it. It's so dangerous.

My glasses prescription is up to date and checked regularly. I've had anti-glare coatings on my lenses before but it didn't make as much difference as I had hoped.

I think that whatever legislation there is governing brightness of vehicle headlights seriously needs to be reviewed.

Definitely A. I know the lights on my new (second hand) car are far too bright, but I can't even dip them as there is no button to adjust. It's been going on for a while though. I'm surprised we don't yet have new laws regarding maximum brightness

Go and get your eyesight checked OP. The same thing happened to me when I became long-sighted

It's A, I've noticed it walking around at night - so not even in a car.

I'm 'fortunate' in that I have light sensitivity as a major migraine trigger.

I say fortunate because many years ago I invested in some Theraspecs which use the FL-41 tint. The indoor version of these eliminate all the blue light from LED lights.

Prior to getting these, I would be literally crying by the time I got home from work on a dark night - between the brake lights in front in traffic jams, the lights from SUVs in my rear view mirror and any oncoming vehicle with LEDs.

If you can afford them, Theraspecs (indoor version) are the answer. When I bought mine, more than a decade ago, I had to get them from the US. I think some outlets do them in the UK now.

My optician had never heard of FL-41, nor had his laboratory colleagues. He remembers me year on year as Mrs FL-41!!

I am pleased I started this thread and that it is not only me. I am long sighted and wear contact lenses but will look into tinted driving glasses for night time driving, as I can't bear it.
I will look into petitioning for enforced limit to brightness!

I absolutely hate how bright some headlights are, they're completely dazzling. And SUVs are the worst because their lights are so much higher.

The route to visit MIL involves a fair amount of driving on narrow, unlit country lanes, with no pavement. It's terrifying when you're suddenly blinded.

I've even had problems from cars behind me, when they hit a bump the blindng headlights catch the mirror and it's as though a camera flash has suddenly gone off inside the car.

It really puts me off driving at night. I've been meaning to get some yellow-tinted clip-ons to go over my glasses, I must get round to it.

Definitely A. I keep seeing cars with three sets of lights on recently. I don't even know how to do that! Unless they're driving with their fogs on?

Thank you for this thread OP. I thought it was just me. Astigmatism plus being a tiny bit older (!).
I now avoid driving lane distance at night if I can.
I will get eyes checked and try the yellow lenses too.
Also when I drove home in the dark in my small car - I find huge 4x4s sit behind me and I am completely flooded with glare and all my mirrors are reflecting it as well. I frequently pull over.
Do these drivers have any idea what they are doing? I get the impression that some drivers in massive cars think I shouldn't be in their way or even allowed on the road at all

Definitely A
Some of these lights are totally dazzling, especially the SUVs. They are usually set too high. And having three sets of lights on the front of a car in normal driving conditions is daft. Some of them have a violet tinge, which is a bit like an emergency blue light from a distance and it's quite distracting.

I must admit that my windscreen exacerbates the situation, being scratched and having minor chips, but I'm planning on replacement soon.

Is there no legislation on light dazzle?

Yes! It makes me so angry when cars come up behind me with their fog lamps on!

i think it’s mainly A. I avoid driving at night if I can. And if it’s raining, it’s worse. I’ve got a pair of the yellow anti glare glasses from Amazon for £6.99. Whilst they don’t 100% solve the problem, they have helped.

VoteTurnipGetTurnip · Yesterday 22:20

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

this - I recently got a new car and it needed adjustment to point down.... I drove for a few days before realising, esp if you mainly drive during the day time.

Go to the optician. I thought this and had developed cataracts.

I have stigmatism and without my glasses it's awful! Even with my glasses I struggle until I get my prescription updated. Maybe get an eye test to rule out stigmatism :)

Yep… A
I also hate it when people flash thank you as it blinds me

The lights on my DH's car are ridiculously bright. It's so bad that when the high beams are on, the reflection from road signs dazzles me.