To think night driving is getting more dangerous

[DazzledbyHeadlights]

Since a few years ago - and now that cyclists/pedestrians have more right of way. I agree and think it works well during the day.

However at night? Headlights seem to be more blinding than ever. Spotting a dimly lit cyclist in front of a full dazzling tank of a car is hard.

In addition, many pedestrians seem to have a cavalier ‘my right of way, I’ll step out’ attitude. I was driving along a 40mph stretch this evening and - 3 times - a dark figure suddenly appeared, stepped out onto the road and I needed to break quite abruptly.

I do this too. Or ive started tilting the wing mirror out

I put the petition in its own thread, here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/petitions_noticeboard/5000936-review-the-brightness-of-car-headlights-for-safety

Modern headlights are far more dazzling than 10 years ago. Only problem is my car's headlights are likely producing the same effect...

It’s good to be aware of that. Do you then give enough space between cars so it dies t dazzle the car in front?

The dazzling wing mirror is so unnerving @Topofthemountain. I like in a busy urban area, with lots of commuter cyclists, but also a lot of delivery cyclists (who mostly seem happy to cycle dressed in lack without lights while weaving in and out of traffic) and I'm terrified that despite being a careful driver I'm going to fail to spot one some day because of this. I increasingly ask DH to drive us home in the dark, which really annoys me!

I actually went for a check-up at the opticians the other day because I was so worried about my night driving vision, particularly when facing the glare of oncoming headlights. Now I see from this thread that there are so many people with the same concerns that it is clearly a change in driving conditions, not my own vision (the check up didn't reveal any problems either).
I've recently got a newer car, and I've noticed that its headlights are way better than my old car's. This makes the dazzle effect less bad for me. But I guess that although making me much safer, this is adding to the overall problem.

Yes sounds like your new car has led headlights. There doesn’t seem to be choice anymore. As I said previously the dazzle effect is less if the car behind stays at a distance.

I posted up thread a while back.

Since then ...

I got a new car at the weekend. The headlights adjust automatically when the lights are switched on. There is no switch/slider to manually adjust them. I know that they are not too high because they cannot be seen in the rear view mirror of the car in front of me. I can see that they do not reach the back window of the car in front. It is purely because they are LED that they are so bright.

The only time I am dazzled by the vehicle behind is when their headlights are set high and their light reflects from my rear view mirror into my eyes. This can be avoided by adjusting the rear view mirror for night driving.

But - this car has headlights which make the road in front look as bright as daylight. They are factory adjusted and they shine slightly to the left of the road and not to the right, towards oncoming traffic.

I have only been out in the dark for short runs twice since I got the car delivered. Lots of cars are flashing me or turning their main beam on in full. I can either try to ignore being blinded or respond by flashing my main beam.

I have rung the dealer today and they have said that the car has been checked prior to delivery and the headlights are correctly positioned.

I can't drive around in the dark with my headlights off.

I'm dreading setting off at 6.15 am in the dark tomorrow. It's unlit country road for at least three quarters of the hour's journey.

I want my old car back.

I did a lot of night driving this w/e.

Compared to when I started driving (late 80s) there are fewer street lights, grottier white lines, way fewer cats eyes, many roads are essentially narrower due to the sides falling apart (and cars are bigger in general). And the LED lights!
Cats eyes really make a difference.
Luckily it was dry.

I got these today and I’ve just driven for about 30 minutes wearing them. Fairly busy roads, in urban area with street lighting, not raining. I would say they’ve cut the dazzle by about 30 percent and it’s making me feel so much safer and confident about night driving. Didn’t cost a lot - they’re just a plastic thingy that clips onto your specs - so folk who wear glasses might wanna try them. Otherwise folks might want to try a pair of the yellow tinted specs.

ETA got them on Amazon

Thanks I might do

You've summed it up so well. I really feel like saying no more night driving as it is so unpleasant.