Do they even make such a thing?

I think as I get older (51 now), my eyes seem to be getting more sensitive to bright light and half or more of the cars on the road now have INSANELY bright headlights. Just the other night I had to move my side mirrors and rearview mirror became this douche canoe with a SUV that had a 10 million lumen set of head lights was right behind me. How are these carmakers even allowed to keep making headlights that blind the crap out of everyone?

I'd love a set of nighttime sunglasses if there is even such a thing.

I have family members who rave about these. I've never tried them.

https://www.amazon.com/Foster-...t%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-6

Yellow lenses help. I agree that these headlights are a problem, but get your eyes checked as well.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
How are these carmakers even allowed to keep making headlights that blind the crap out of everyone?

That’s a question that I’ve long wondered about. There are many other standards that car manufacturers are required to meet, and, somewhat ironically, headlight brightness is the only thing I can think of that directly affects other drivers on the road. When oncoming lights are so bright that I literally cannot see beyond the edge of the road to look for deer, pedestrians, or other obstacles, it’s a direct and serious danger to me and possibly others.

The same is true of some lights at nighttime construction zones. The lights actually increase the danger to the workers because of how they’re aimed at traffic and how bright they are.

And don’t get me started on the proliferation of illuminated billboards.

Ah, well; just no stopping progress.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

The same is true of some lights at nighttime construction zones. The lights actually increase the danger to the workers because of how they’re aimed at traffic and how bright they are.

Yup, I have experienced this.

Police lights are in the same category. There should be at least two settings, one for daytime brightness and one for nighttime brightness. They have gotten so bright that when they are stopped on the side of the road and they are full bright it is blinding to the eyes.

My hypothesis is the new headlamps are focused, whereas in the old days it was the large glass dish which threw a pretty diffuse beam. The new headlamps have a much tighter beam, so if you are outside of that beam it is dim, but if they are aimed a little too high then they are super bright.

Same lumens, more concentrated.

I wonder if polarized lenses would reduce the glare? But I've never seen anything polarized that isn't also dark.

Have you considered getting your windows tinted?

Made a world of difference in my GTI. It fixes 3 out of the 4 sides.

I think there are multiple aspects.

1. vehicles that come stock where lights blind traffic (either from front or rear). some vehicles have bright lights that don't affect other traffic while others do.

2. vehicles that are modified from stock without proper post-fitting. this includes lights and conversions as well as shifts in mechanics (like lifting suspensions and/or larger wheel diameters) and results in a vehicle adversely impacting traffic.

3. etc.

I wear lightly tinted (neutral grey) polarized lenses when it rains to reduce reflected glare. Note that color does affect polarization efficacy - yellow for example results in minimal efficacy of the polarization. This was an expensive lesson for me. If you get polarized lenses and polarization efficacy is important, stick w/ neutral grey.

But polarized tinted lenses and windows are not really sufficient for the brighter lights, especially when oncoming and especially when the vehicle is no longer stock w/o proper post-fitment adjustments.

I'd be interested in a solution if one is available.

Instead of smog checks which are largely a scam, they should have headlight checks.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
How are these carmakers even allowed to keep making headlights that blind the crap out of everyone?

You're not the only one noticing it. It has to do with the technology of new headlights (and the ongoing "arms race" among carmakers to see who can put out the most awful daytime running lights -- I've ranted on this before). I read an article recently (here) addressing LED headlight technology specifically.

quote:

from the article:
LED headlights produce a more focused and higher-intensity light beam than their halogen predecessors, so they're perceived as much brighter. While this technology has greatly enhanced safety by helping drivers identify obstacles, pedestrians, and road signs more easily, it has come at a cost — blinding other drivers.

There's supposed to be some "relief" coming to headlight technology, by way of "smart" headlights (adaptive beam technology) bit it'll take a good long time for that to become widely used. Meanwhile, many of us are stuck squinting and figuring out how to get as much done before dark as possible. Geeze, I feel like such an old man for having typed that....


- - - -
ETA: Here's another article, if you're feeling science-y.

Yeah, get your eyes checked. You could be starting to develop cataracts.

Here you go:

https://cocoonseyewear.com/pro...ht-driving-fitovers/

Bought a set, but haven't used them yet.

quote:

Originally posted by holdem:

...Police lights are in the same category. There should be at least two settings, one for daytime brightness and one for nighttime brightness. They have gotten so bright that when they are stopped on the side of the road and they are full bright it is blinding to the eyes.

The police lights do have different settings. At least the ones the campus police have on their cars do at my kids' school. I was dropping my daughter off in the dark one morning and mentioned to the officer that between the lights and his black uniform, I couldn't see him at all directing traffic. He went to the car, flipped a switch, and the light were significantly dimmer.

The new car headlights cause problems for the same reason the sky is blue. The shorter wavelength of blue light causes it to scatter more than the other colors of visible light. Modern headlights are whiter than the old incandescent bulbs because they throw more blue light than the old bulbs.

Keeping your windshield clean in and out will help.

Some cheap, yellow clip-ons that go over normal glasses have worked well for night and snow driving.

I agree, and I'll add my grump is about the big giant pickups and suvs that sit so tall. When they are behind me their headlamps are about the height of my rear-view mirror and side mirrors are not too far off. It's so irritating, especially at a stoplight waiting.

I've been tempted to try to figure out how to get a couple of airplane landing lights attached just under my rear bumper and give them a dose back.
.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
You could be starting to develop cataracts.

This will definitely make it worse, but the problem with these new lights is still evident. There's been a few times when I've had to pull to the side of the road and stop because I couldn't see anything. It's even worse when it's raining or snowing or there's construction lights around.

The local postal delivery trucks all have their high beams on at all times.

OKCGene - I have the same issue at times. One way I deal with is it when I'm at a red light is to point to the rearview mirror, then open my sunglass holder that is above my rearview mirror with that finger. Then pull away slowly to encourage them to back off or go around. It gets the message across without being confrontational. The sunglass holder blocks a majority of the glare. I'll also turn down the side mirrors till they are no longer behind me.

Headlights from the front are still a big problem.

-TVz

I am in my mid 70s, so eye health is important. Several years ago when I lived in Northern Virginia, my optician (who is also a shooter) constructed a set of eyeglasses for use at nighttime or in periods of low visibility, such as rain and fog). They also address the problem of nighttime driving because of a coating he used. Now that I am living in South Carolina, I have met seniors who complain of ongoing headlights almost blinding them. I understand that the problem is at least two-fold: first, if someone has cataracts, nighttime vision becomes problematic if driving. And second, if cataracts are not a problem, then customized eyeglasses may help (I cannot speak to contacts). So recommend first seeing your eye doctor to see if there is an underlying condition, such as cataracts, and then finding an optician who can customize a set of eyeglasses for nighttime and other diminished visibility driving.

quote:

Originally posted by holdem:


Police lights are in the same category. There should be at least two settings, one for daytime brightness and one for nighttime brightness. They have gotten so bright that when they are stopped on the side of the road and they are full bright it is blinding to the eyes.

our newer cars come with a low power mode which automatically activates if it's night outside and dims all the lights.

I'm preparing to get even, but not installing the really really bright white ones or LED ones that require you install additional parts.