Anyone else blinded by these new headlights when driving?

[Totallybannanas]

Am I the only one struggling with how bright car headlights have become? I’ve been avoiding driving at night for a while now because of it, but I don’t remember them being this intense in the past. Every car I pass feels like it’s on full beams, and I end up feeling completely blinded. I know my astigmatism makes it worse, but I recently had an eye test and wear corrective glasses. Tonight, I had to make a journey I couldn’t avoid, and I found myself driving at 40mph in a 60mph zone because the car behind me was tailgating and their lights were so dazzling. I eventually pulled over to let them pass. Does anyone else deal with this?

I have a slight astigmatism, I wasn't aware it made it worse.
I suffer from headlights, it wasn't like this before all these newer models of cars and their LED lights. Sometimes I don't know if cars have their full beam or not, the difference is less apparent.

Yellow tinted glasses at night can help, and if I get a car with bright lights behind me, I press that little switch on the rear view mirror to dim it.

For all those complaining about lights in the rear view mirror - you do know that you can tilt it so it reflects from the glass (and therefore much dimmer) instead of the highly reflective silver background

Oh all the time - I have astigmatism too and I don't like driving after dark any more mainly because of the goddamn lights!

I hate them too. But what I hate even more is when they’re arranged to look like aggressively frowning eyes. It’s bad enough being out in the dark on your own without that behind you.

Wow, I have astigmatism and had no idea that that might be why I struggle with night driving. Cheers, Mumsnet.

I do agree, but would be interested in the views of 20-something MNetters. When I mention this problem to young colleagues they look blank so I am concerned it may be a 40+ eye issue. Hope I'm wrong.

https://www.change.org/p/implement-regulations-to-minimize-headlight-brightness-in-cars

Same here. Only I can't avoid driving in the dark because it's dark when I leave for work and dark when I come home. Even worse if I have to drive down the lanes with no road markings.

please everyone sign and share the petition

Yes awful.,especially on other side of road if they are stationary in a queue of traffic

Yes ..I try not to drive at night now.

I hate driving in the dark and I have to do lots of country roads. But when I’m met with those bloody lights, my word, they're blinding.

Gosh yes, when the clocks changed and I first went out out in the dark I flashed 2 separate people thinking they were on full beam (in a polite you've left your beams on way, rural roads) before realising it was just new cars. Yesterday I was blinded by someone who had parked up on my side of the road but left their lights on, so dangerous

I thought I was going night blind and went to ask my optician about it, apparently its just headlights are bright now and street lights aren't, so that was embarrassing.

The headlights are so bright I struggle to see if cars have their indicator on!

Yes, pretty much everybody. It's not just a problem for drivers either, as a pedestrian or a cyclist they are terrible as well. I can't fathom why they are allowed.

Are you ‘looking off’ when you drive or straight ahead? You need to look towards the pavement on the passenger side. You’ll still see where you’re going but it means you won’t be blinded by oncoming traffic.

I have no idea when they stopped teaching this but no one seems to know it now.

I didn't get taught that. And why should you have to lok at the pavement? I want to look at the road ahead of me.

But apart from the odd person who used full beam and forgot to turn it off, I never had a problem until recent years and the new headlights.

I know it.
No use against blue LED lights.
The peripheral dazzle is killer.

I am considering giving up night driving because of it.

Do you mean now you have a car with bright LED lights and it makes the other ones not so dazzling?

I've been wondering if this is the way ahead for me because honestly, the Department for Transport isn't going to do anything about it. I want to go down the garage and get the brightest dazzlingest beams fitted

Yep. SUVs and LEDs 👎

I've driven all over the country for 30 years and always felt safe.

I don't feel safe driving at night any longer.

In fact I feel like I could crash any second.

It's really, really, really fucking dangerous and something should be done.

i'd be interested to know how many crashes are attributed to being blinded by oncoming traffic nowadays.

Thanks for the petition @Sunshineandrainbow - that picture is really quite accurate (except you can't see the actual road in real life)
Signed

It doesn't help that so many people tailgate these days. It drives me mad. Especially if you're in heavy traffic and can't go any faster but some wander drives a metre away from your bumper.

I don't drive but I do cycle everywhere. I didn't used to mind cycling in the dark but i hate it now. The roads are darker and the headlights are much brighter. And being another one with astigmatism, I find it very disorientating. Petition signed!

Yes. I had someone flash their lights at me the other day to say thank you for letting them pass and I wished they hadn’t, it was so bright!