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 have to walk with a torch if I walk anywhere after dark, cannot see what you might be treading in or where uneven pavements are. So much shadow caused by street lights, yet terrible at actually lighting.

I believe a lot of cars have LED headlights now. It’s ridiculous, they burn your bastard retinas! Good for them that they can see 97 miles into the distance but I’m going to be registered blind at some point 😂

The problem is crappy energy saving street lighting and too bright headlights. I hate driving at night these days. Luckily I very rarely have to, although walking isn't much more fun either.
I've got myself a little clip on light that makes me visible and lights the way a bit.

I've signed the petition @BlackCatsAreBrilliant - though, it's got a long way to go.

I have a big SUV that has very bright LED headlights. I agree they are dazzling and too bright. I've noticed recently that some cars flash me, I'm wondering if they think I'm on full beam, so I have no choice but to do a quick flash back, so they can see I'm not on full beam.

I can imagine this surprises them.

I checked my lights and there aren't any bulbs gone, so no other reason for flashing.

I didn't design the lights, or put the led bulbs in them, it's just the car I like to drive 🤷🏻‍♀️

A friend bought me a pair of these last year, and they really are a game changer. I already wear glasses and they fit comfortably over them.
In my opinion, the Land Rover /SUV brigade are the worst offenders round here. They don't appear to have any farming/estate use for them. Rather the "yummy mummies" and their children.

I have to admit that as a pedestrian I do step out in front of cars on purpose, but that’s only at pedestrian crossings where I’m clearly waiting to cross and it’s obvious a driver wasn’t going to stop.

If a driver ignores pedestrian crossings then they aren’t driving safely.

What car do you drive? A Fiat 500? 😂 Or maybe a Nissan Micra?

Everyone slows down when they’ve been blinded though?

Then there’s the added fear that the blinded driver behind you will run into the back of you!

The problem with the rise of the SUV is that, if you’re driving a normal car coming in the opposite direction, the SUV lights are exactly at the eye level of the driver. I am constantly dazzled by very bright SUV lights coming at me in a way I never am with normal height cars, or lorries, where the lights are set at the same height from the road as those of normal cars. Dipping them makes very little difference because of where they are on the car. It’s similar to how tractors dazzle because their lights are set up, but thankfully even in my rural area these are few and far between after dark. Not only are SUVs a blight on car parks, but they also contribute this much more dangerous issue.

That was a reply to allfur must’ve pressed something wrong!

Yes. I really struggle with the super bright headlights. I also don't remember the tarmac being so shiny in wet weather. Also the road mistaking have all worn off in my city.

Why is it so hilarious to drive a perfectly normal, low fuel consumption, big enough to carry everyone you need to, environmentally friendly, simple to find a parking space for car? Do you rely on the perceived status of your vehicle for your self esteem? Have a look at yourself if so.

Whats funny?

Fortunately we no longer have those rental scooters in my city. It feels so much safer. They terrified me, as the riders were always in black.,

Its not just SUVs, all cars with lights like this dazzle and blind me

Not in the dark wearing all dark colours/no lights though surely?

with the best will in the world drivers can only see so far ahead in the dark!

Where is the petition?

Usual stupid, smug response. It's a pathetic statement 'just drive slower', short of driving a 0 mph there will always be a danger for all road users, are we telling cyclists to travel at 0mph for everyone's safety and pedestrians to walk at 0 mph? Driving home last night, very dark a pedestrian walking on the correct side of the unpavemented road, started waving her arm at me, pointing to the opposite side of the narrow road, both she and I were clearly visible and I was driving at well under the limit.

Feel the same. I hate driving in the dark due to all the issues mentioned. I can WFH, but when I go in to work, I always leave at 4pm so I don’t have to drive in the dark. I’m lucky I can because I would be terrified otherwise. I’m not a particularly confident driver anyway…

If you’re aware your lights are too bright then could they be swapped at next change for non led ones?

Agree newer headlights are far too bright. Painfully so.

Add in different driver heights and there’s a problem. Driving on motorways in the dark is challenging.

And so being more prone to the brighter lights dazzling.

On my trip to pick up ds from late stay at school tonight (ie in the dark) think I ticked off all of this :

• man dressed entirely in black running out in front of me to cross road on 40 mph stretch. Not on a pedestrian crossing, just literally dodging cars on a four lane stretch of busy London road. I screamed FUCK and managed to slow down in time
• absolutely dazzled by one car’s headlights at traffic lights (thought they were on beam but having read comments on here it might have just been a new car’s led lights )
• while still seeing stars from being dazzled, and suffering palpitations from ninja pedestrian, I then encountered an e scooter zooming up on the inside when I was about to turn left : again dressed head to toe black, no lights
• then just dozens of motorbike delivery drivers who give me grief day and night as I try and avoid killing them

If you're stupid enough to step out in front of a moving vehicle then you're not walking safely and represent as big a problem as a speeding car, yet I wonder who would get the blame for crass idiocy?

I got some yellow tinted glasses - they also fit over my own specs. Around £7 on Amazon.

Total game changer 👌