Survey: Drivers say headlight glare is getting worse

[Retro]

I've noticed that it seems to be getting worse, even if the beam isn't misaligned. I have to put the rearview mirror into dark mode quite frequently nowadays and when it's from the front it does indeed force me to look away and slow down as it may obliterate my view of the road. It's a real hazard and very uncomfortable. I thought that the brightness and beam shape of car headlights was regulated, so how is this problem getting worse?

Please vote in the poll.

More than four out of five (85%) drivers affected by headlight glare say the problem is getting worse, a survey suggests.

The RAC, which commissioned the poll, called on the Government to fund an independent study into the issue.

It believes headlights appear brighter on modern cars because their use of LED rather than traditional halogen bulbs creates a more intense and focused beam, which improves a driver’s view but can be to the detriment of other road users.

Other potential factors include badly aligned headlights and the increase in the number of cars that sit higher on the road, such as SUVs.

The survey of 2,000 UK drivers suggested 89% think some car headlights are too bright.

Two-thirds (67%) of those affected by headlight glare say being dazzled forces them to slow down considerably until they can see clearly again, while 64% believe some headlights are so bright they risk causing accidents.

Drivers say headlight glare is getting worse – survey

The RAC, which commissioned the poll, called on the Government to fund an independent study into the issue.

uk.news.yahoo.com

 

[live627]

Even as a passenger in the back of a mini van with the darkest window tint legally allowed, this is painfully obvious. Bad LEDs on the opposite side of the road stick out like a sore thumb from older style halogen bulbs because

• they blue
• they flicker/shimmer
• they blue
• they have big glowing halos
• they blue

I think LED headlight would be much better if their color temperature was reduced to 3500K, on par with halogens. Might even get rid of that annoying glow.

 

[Retro]

Here's a new article on how there's no quick fix for this problem. Yes there is: make the hyperbright headlights of modern cars dimmer by 2 to 3 times, down to how they used to be. Problem solved.

Why there's no quick fix in sight for the problem of dazzling headlights

Road users say headlight glare is an issue - but experts warn a solution might not be straightforward.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[danky]

I’m so grateful it isn’t just me! Slowly over the years I noticed it but I wondered if I was having some sort of night driving problem. But no, it’s absolutely the headlights.

I brought this up to a friend and he said “they aren’t brighter, they’re just misaligned” which is not true. Sure they can be and it’ll hit you in the eyes but I do feel it’s the headlights. I think it’s a mix of things overall

1: people buy third party headlight from Amazon that are insanely bright for night driving with no concern of what that does to other people.
2: I’ve noticed a lot of people turn on their high beams and forget about it. This has happened a lot in the past few weeks

It’s a deeper topic, seen in the article from Retro, but there is a lot of media out there about this. I’m not sure what to do about it but I’ve had to start flashing my high beams at people in the hopes that they’ll get the hint.

 

[Hitcore]

To make things worse: despite that headlights now clearly are brighter than ever before, lots of drivers evidently feel that that isn't enough, and have the habitual urge to ignite their friggin' fog lights on clear nights. It's like: I'm really happy for you that you can now see 154 miles in the distance, but any oncoming traffic is now legally blind.

On that note: drivers do tend to momentarily turn off those light beams that are powerful enough to send messages in Morse code to the International Space Station when an oncoming driver approaches as some sort of mutual understanding, but they feel blatantly exempt from this if the oncoming traffic is "just" a cyclist, or a moped/scooter rider.

In other words: me.