We get a large number of threads on here about uprating headlamps to improve the drivers visibility and  I was interested to see the Government has now commissioned research into the topic of headlight dazzle.

Although it is generally recognised that our eyes do benefit from more light as they age, I have not yet found any problem actually seeing at night with my own headlights in any car, on a darkened road. My problem is the dazzle caused by oncoming vehicles. It seems I am not alone in this - my optometrist tells me that this is the most frequent issue raised by his customers (in all age groups) when driving is discussed. A recent AA poll found three quarters of drivers complain of dazzle, while a similar one for the RAC found 90% of drivers reported dazzle issues.

Of course, it may be that the issue is poor headlight adjustment, or drivers (or autodip systems) not dipping in time or failing to do so altogether, but it will be interesting to see if anything emerges regarding the lights themselves, which are increasingly LED these days.

 

 

 

 

I feel many new headlights are too bright to be able to see properly it's almost like they're on main beam.  It's obvious a problem if many people are also feeling the same way. My eyesight is ok but I see just fine with my original fitted halogen bulbs. If you're eyesight really is bad enough you need super high intensity bulbs should you even be driving at night?

About time too, anyone who needs super bright Headlamps shouldn't be driving at any time other than when the ambient light levels high. It doesn't matter if they have been professionally adjusted, that only works when the roads are perfectly flat which they are not in most parts of the country and the Headlamp has been designed for the Lamp that is fitted into it.

Here is an example, there is a four way traffic light controlled junction not far from me where two of the roads opposite each other are lower than the main road and have a gentle slope up to the lights. If you are the first car at the lights then the Headlamps of the car opposite shine right into your eyes even when properly adjusted. If they are Halogen then it is not a problem, it's a wide junction, if they are aftermarket LED then you almost get Retina Burn even if they are correctly adjusted. Correctly adjusted LED Lamps should not have a longer range, if they are fitted in a Headlamp that is not designed for then all they do is scatter the light and annoy other drivers.

One of the other factors is that a lot of people now think that night time should look the same as day time, so much so that they expect the overprocessed photos taken on their Smartphones at night to look like daytime as well, so why should they have to drive a bit more carefully at night when they can just fit aftermarket LED's

I hate those really bright LED lights, especially when it's dark and the roads are wet.

On one of the roads near me, there are a series of speed bumps, and every time a car coming towards me goes over one of them I get blinded.

13 hours ago, Janner7859 said:

.. every time a car coming towards me goes over one of them I get blinded.

I think that is an overriding issue. The alignment of headlights is critical, not only for the driver, but oncoming drivers too. Obviously when a car is elevated by a speed bump,  the beam will shine incorrectly, albeit momentarily.

My own elderly 'halogen' headlights have had LED bulbs replaced in them for years now. I had them professionally aligned to ensure they were not shedding a beam pattern to blind oncoming traffic, and indeed they have passed 3 consecutive MOTs as they pass the beam dispersion test with a government checked machine.

I stated only yesterday that many drivers don't even know how to operate their rear fog light, and the complexity of modern headlights is one function I'd happily see total automation given over to the car as manual cabin adjusters are just beyond the scope of many drivers...