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Original poster

Anyone else blinded by these new headlights when driving?

204 replies

Totallybannanas · 16/12/2024 19:05

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?

OP posts:
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6
pumpkinpillow · 17/12/2024 12:23

DelilahBucket · 17/12/2024 12:16

Well if you have no street lights at all then of course that will make it worse. That's what I mean, the old street lights used to provide more lighting on the road and therefore headlights didn't seem as bright.

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I don't think that's the issue. Some cars lights are very, very bright. The presence (or not) of street lights doesn't change that.

FeegleFrenzy · 17/12/2024 12:25

I've had to stop night driving because of this. It's the oncoming cars which are dazzling me. SUVs are worse. Maybe I need an SUV so I'm higher up? I do have astigmatism, don't find yellow glasses help.

justasking111 · 17/12/2024 12:26

I have a mini cabriolet low on the ground. SUV lights are much higher up

Mountainpika · 17/12/2024 12:43

Awful in both darkness and daylight.

ginasevern · 17/12/2024 13:23

These new ultra bright headlights and SUV's are a bloody danger and completely unnecessary. I thought they were going to raise it in parliament not so long ago.

Shade17 · 17/12/2024 14:08

nonumbersinthisname · 17/12/2024 12:09

I was fiddling with my headlight settings while parked up the other day, and realised that the daylight running lights are much brighter than “sidelights”. And that my auto headlights seem to go straight from DRL to headlights bypassing sidelights, which I assume is the same for most cars - I find it tiring driving on winter afternoons and everyone else’s main beam lights are on and blinding me. So I am manually selecting “sidelights” for dull and dingy winter daytime, and hopefully this means I am lit up enough that people can see me, but I’m not dazzling. (It also means my rear lights are on, which they aren’t in DRL mode). During the day anyway, like everyone else I’m probably part of the problem when it gets dark with main beam on.

Edited
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I think you mean “dipped” beam. “Main” beam is just that!

nonumbersinthisname · 17/12/2024 14:23

Shade17 · 17/12/2024 14:08

I think you mean “dipped” beam. “Main” beam is just that!

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Yes, probably, i mean the “main” ie general use headlights, not the full works. DRL>sidelights>dipped headlights>the light of a thousand suns full beam

Shade17 · 17/12/2024 14:31

nonumbersinthisname · 17/12/2024 14:23

Yes, probably, i mean the “main” ie general use headlights, not the full works. DRL>sidelights>dipped headlights>the light of a thousand suns full beam

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Yeah, main beam = full beam. Use dipped beam otherwise you confuse people

Heartofglass12345 · 17/12/2024 14:34

I hate them, I can't believe they're legal! I was turning right into a junction the other night and there was a car waiting to turn out and as I turned in I could see a bloody thing!

ScarlettSunset · 17/12/2024 14:48

fivebyfivebuffy · 16/12/2024 19:10

Yep, I think a lot aren't adjusted correctly as well because people don't look at the manual/online info and just get in and drive
If a car doesn't have an MOT as it's new that could be 3 years of driving round with them dazzling people!

I agree with this.
My partner recently bought a new car and the lights just weren't adjusted correctly. He didn't expect that and was surprised when other drivers stared to flash their lights at him, but quickly realised the issue. He adjusted them which took less than a minute and there's been no problems since.

Quite why the manufacturers always set them as though the car is fully loaded initially, I have no idea. Most cars I see rarely have more than one person in them.

SweetBaklava · 17/12/2024 15:03

Totally agree OP, I really try to avoid driving in the dark as much as I can - the lights can sometimes trigger a migraine for me 😭

Shade17 · 17/12/2024 15:15

ScarlettSunset · 17/12/2024 14:48

I agree with this.
My partner recently bought a new car and the lights just weren't adjusted correctly. He didn't expect that and was surprised when other drivers stared to flash their lights at him, but quickly realised the issue. He adjusted them which took less than a minute and there's been no problems since.

Quite why the manufacturers always set them as though the car is fully loaded initially, I have no idea. Most cars I see rarely have more than one person in them.

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The majority of cars fitted with LEDs are self levelling.

Cutecattoes · 17/12/2024 15:43

99% of my night driving is done with the rear view mirror flicked up so I can actually see.
I dread a pedestrian taking a chance in front of my car when these blinding light are coming towards me as I just wouldn't see them.

ExpressCheckout · 17/12/2024 15:45

Yes, I simply cannot believe how bad these lights are for pedestrians. They're dangerous. Many car drivers I've spoken with don't seem to be aware of how difficult they make things like crossing the road.

Barney16 · 17/12/2024 15:47

I drive rural roads and it's horrendous. Lights so bright I sometimes wonder why is everyone driving with full beam, they aren't of course. I would quite happily never drive at night again but that's impractical and very limiting. If there's a petition I would happily sign it.

ginasevern · 17/12/2024 15:53

Barney16 · 17/12/2024 15:47

I drive rural roads and it's horrendous. Lights so bright I sometimes wonder why is everyone driving with full beam, they aren't of course. I would quite happily never drive at night again but that's impractical and very limiting. If there's a petition I would happily sign it.

I live rurally too and on country lanes these lights are literally blinding. You don't stand a chance against them. Count me in with a petition.

pumpkinpillow · 17/12/2024 16:13

There is a study being done

You'd think the brightness of the lights and the impact they have on other road users would have been part of the research car manufacturers were required to do BEFORE they started using them.

Instead they've just made them brighter and brighter until no one can see and launched a study into what the problem might be.

TheFormidableMrsC · 17/12/2024 16:14

I try not to drive at night now partly because of this. It's horrible. They also look like they're flashing you with every bump. I have always been a confident driver but no longer at night.

GiantBears · 17/12/2024 16:17

Lightaware are campaigning to get it sorted out. You can join up with a paid membership if you want to help them do the job.

https://lightaware.org/

NRTFT · 17/12/2024 16:19

Sunshineandrainbow · 16/12/2024 20:32

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The petition was shared up-thread - for those asking

jolota · 17/12/2024 16:30

I loathe the new headlights, they feel so dangerous and blinding to me.

ExpressCheckout · 17/12/2024 16:38

NRTFT · 17/12/2024 16:19

The petition was shared up-thread - for those asking

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Thanks, signed 👏
Please everyone sign this if you feel strongly about it ^

SereneFish · 17/12/2024 17:40

Ace56 · 16/12/2024 19:10

Yes I agree. Did you know there’s a little switch on your rear view mirror though that dims all the lights behind you when you look it it? Every car has it, usually just underneath. I have to have that on all the time now when driving in the dark.

THANK YOU for posting this! I remembered your post today when some SUV knob was tailgating me, found the button, and wow, the difference. I had no idea that switch was there.

BrighterLater · 17/12/2024 17:43

Dabralor · 16/12/2024 19:08

Yes it's horrendous. Ditto intermittent flashing led bike lights.

I cycle and regularly encounter someone coming other way with a crazy bright flashing light.

Yes I know they are there, but no real idea where 'there' is as I am alternately dazzled then plunged into darkness!