To hate these dazzling bright white headlights

[MargoLivebetter]

The clocks have changed and my post work drive back from the station is across country roads is in the pitch dark. Half an hour of being tortured by dazzling white headlights on I'm guessing the newer cars?! You can tell that they are on some kind of automatic dip too, as it takes ages for them to lower properly, unlike when someone manually dips their main beam.

I really, really, really hate them. I wondered if it is because I'm in my mid 50s and I hate everything and maybe my eyes are less reactive, but my DC in their mid 20s say that they find them blinding too. (And I do have my eyes tested annually and my vision is fine.)

Does anyone have any tips for making them less blinding? Can I get glasses with anti-glare (that actually work) or have some kind of anti-glare filter on my windscreen? Or should I get similar fitted on my own car and somehow the dazzle from my headlights would cancel out their dazzle?

YANBU

Invariably massive stupid ugly SUVs. Apparently a lot of cars the default is full beam and the lights dip when another car is approaching. What kind of stupid idea is that?

Have you checked your headlamp alignment

I live near the M1 and the lorries also have these all over the front of them like Blackpool Illuminations. At the other end of the scale, the Minis all have them too.

I drive a small car and when they appear behind me, I'm blinded.

Auto dip is useless on bends and on the raised level crossing near me.

I find twilight and dawn driving the worst.

A lot of rear lights seem to be bright LEDs now too.

YANBU headlights are much brighter than they used to be.

Apparently LEDs have recently overtaken HID bulbs in new car headlights, but both types are extremely bright.

Both types are several times brighter than the previous technology (Halogen lamps).

So there is nothing wrong with your age or your eyes!

Im not sure what the answer to coping with it is, sadly!

Interesting thread. Two things:

1. I have a new car. How can I tell if I have these super-blinding lights (which I agree are a right pain)? Although I have a Yaris, would it fall into the blinding category (not being suv height and, well, a Yaris)?

2. This auto-dip feature reminds me of bil who borrowed my old car. He complained that there was no cruise control or back camera and had a hand break (was an automatic though!). Do these ”drivers” of these all-singing-and-dancing suvs actually drive, or merely sit behind the wheel?

This and bikes/electric scooters with no lights on 😬

I think all very new cars have the bright lights .

The auto dips are too slow. The instructions do warn they're not great for hills/corners and may not dip for pedestrians/cyclists. I've usually got to mine before the auto pings into action.

I also struggle with the brights lights. I have astigmatism too, so bright lights, the dark and especially lights, dark nights and rain are an absolute nightmare. I've also found I really struggle at night now due to councils not maintaining the road markings. When it's wet I find you just can't see them.

I've just had a horrible drive home, from a day out in Northumbria, for this very reason.

I have perfect eyesight and I can’t fucking see the road because of them. Not blaming individuals as they are struggling to see too!
I just go slower.

I hate them and feel like such an old crow that I now think twice about driving at night.
Driving home late on country roads a couple of weeks ago, I swear I thought I was going to die as a bus coming towards me completely blinded me. I swerved onto the grass verge and was fine but it left me feeling absolutely terrified.

A lot are automatics and don’t need handbrake on unless parking.

YANBU. I cannot/will not drive at night any more unless I absolutely have to because of those awful bright headlights! Most of the roads round here don't have white lines along the edge and often don't have them in the centre either. I get quite disorientated when cars are coming towards me, especially a line of cars, and I can't see the edge of the road properly to guide me. It's so stressful and I worry that I'm going to go off the road so I end up slowing right down and becoming one of those drivers that others get impatient with!

I read recently that menopause can play a part in affecting vision because declining hormones make us more prone to dry eye syndrome which can scatter light and cause halos, starbursts, or increased glare around streetlights and headlights while driving at night.

I've suspected for a while that I have dry eye syndrome so I'll ask at my next optician appointment.

Absolutely! As a pedestrian I'm absolutely fed up of auto-dip headlights, they don't dip for pedestrians.

I’ve driven since 17 and it’s the same. You’re so right about the faded white lines making it even harder