UK government launches review into headlight glare after drivers’ complaints

16 comments

1. Turns out the cause of the problem was blindingly obvious. Real light bulb moment.

2. Again another archaic law that has no /negative effect on modern cars.

   Limiting a cars light out put by wattage was fine when it was a halogen lamp but the new led lights have such a high lumens per watt output it’s stupid.

   Another stupid law that needs looking at is the comerical non goods vehicle law.

   I can drive my series 3 Land Rover at 70 mph on a dual carriageway, it has drum brakes, no abs, no traction control, no dynamic stability but my pickup (that I use to tow heavy trailers and to hold my tooling) can only do 60mph on a dual carriageway and 50mph on nsl and it has every safety feature, independent suspension, front camera for hazard avoidance…

3. A bit weird. I might be wrong but I thought LED head lights were illegal unless the headlights were heated. In case of snow.

   I agree that headlights have become brighter, which is a problem.

   Interior dash lighting has also become brighter with a greater surface area. Which could be causing the need for brighter headlights.

4. finally.

   There have been a couple of times where I’ve flashed someone to know their full beams were on in oncoming traffic cause I was being blinded, only for them to flash me back with their actual full beams and burned my retinas.

   ​

   Headlights are meant to help you see the road. if you can’t see the road whenever there is another modern car coming the opposite way then they’ve defeated their purpose.

5. Headlight glare is much worse than it used to be. I find it blinding sometimes.

   I don’t know if it’s because the lights are brighter, or because the cars are bigger and so the lights are actually directly in my eyes. Maybe both.

6. Basically need StVZO bike lights for cars.

   Comparison example after the 5th light: [https://youtu.be/MnrSLr3zB8Q?feature=shared&t=376](https://youtu.be/MnrSLr3zB8Q?feature=shared&t=376)

7. Well I am glad to know it’s not just me. Some are crazy bright.

8. Aren’t they suppose to be dipped? Is it the fact that cars are much bigger now and the dip is “longer” perhaps?

9. I no longer drive at night for this very reason. I am so blinded after the car passes that everything appears pitch black as my old eyes don’t react to light/dark quickly enough any more and I could potentially kill someone in the seconds it takes my eyes to readjust.

10. Another policy for the peanut gallery.

    The headlight problem is ubiquitous, what are they going to do? Force every offending vehicle to change their headlights?

11. I went to the optician thinking this was a sign my eyesight was degrading – wonderful to know it’s not just me!

12. My headlights are so bright the reflection from large road signs dazzles me.

13. I think the angle is the bigger problem. I have a Tesla and would get flashed at constantly at night when my lights were on low beam. I then found I could calibrate the lights and lower the angle myself from the screen. Since then not a single person has flashed me. The lights are still as bright, but they’re better angled towards the road rather than in people’s eyes

14. The problem is people don’t check their lights are aligned properly and also those automatic main beam assisted cars (I have one) should be illegal, it really doesn’t work properly.

15. Yeah I spend half my evening commute home on my motorbike with my polarized sun visor down. At least that way I can see the oncoming cars a little bit.

16. I’ve felt for a while that some headlights are just too bright.