RAC says new headlights 'blinding drivers'
- Thread starter Eddie
- Start date
Soldato
They certainly should be checked and set up for roadworthiness by the main dealer as part of the 'delivery' price.
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Never really had an issue.
Surprised it's taken this long for such a report/survey to have been carried out, have thought this for a long time.
In addition to being dazzled or blinded by the glare, I find it difficult on some models to see when they're indicating. The auto dip on just one side, when indicating doesn't help, if anything makes things worse along with fog/driving lights switching on whilst going around corners are also a problem.
God help you should anyone flash their lights to let you go first!!
Seeing as I'm on a roll....
Daytime driving lights are just as bad and just as dazzling. Fancy LED's on with nothing on on the rear of the car, all fine until it becomes overcast or rains and because the driver has the dashboard lit up they think they have their lights on, when in fact the haven't.
Even though this survey has been carried out, nothing will change, if it ever should, it won't be for years.
In addition to being dazzled or blinded by the glare, I find it difficult on some models to see when they're indicating. The auto dip on just one side, when indicating doesn't help, if anything makes things worse along with fog/driving lights switching on whilst going around corners are also a problem.
God help you should anyone flash their lights to let you go first!!
Seeing as I'm on a roll....
Daytime driving lights are just as bad and just as dazzling. Fancy LED's on with nothing on on the rear of the car, all fine until it becomes overcast or rains and because the driver has the dashboard lit up they think they have their lights on, when in fact the haven't.
Even though this survey has been carried out, nothing will change, if it ever should, it won't be for years.
Soldato
Surprised it's taken this long for such a report/survey to have been carried out, have thought this for a long time.
In addition to being dazzled or blinded by the glare, I find it difficult on some models to see when they're indicating. The auto dip on just one side, when indicating doesn't help, if anything makes things worse along with fog/driving lights switching on whilst going around corners are also a problem.
God help you should anyone flash their lights to let you go first!!
Seeing as I'm on a roll....
Daytime driving lights are just as bad and just as dazzling. Fancy LED's on with nothing on on the rear of the car, all fine until it becomes overcast or rains and because the driver has the dashboard lit up they think they have their lights on, when in fact the haven't.
Even though this survey has been carried out, nothing will change, if it ever should, it won't be for years.
You need help.
Since swapping from a typical hatchback to a low sitting sports/gt style car, I've had to get used to headlights glaring in my mirrors and head on very fast, especially SUVs as above (Nissan and Range Rover being the worst).
Similar note, but the amount of cars I see around the city these days with headlights out using foglights instead is ridiculous (not talking the 'dlr' foglights either, proper blindingly bright ones...)
Similar note, but the amount of cars I see around the city these days with headlights out using foglights instead is ridiculous (not talking the 'dlr' foglights either, proper blindingly bright ones...)
Yep, and most of those have halogens so the blame isn't entirely on LEDs or HIDs.
LEDs are no worse than Xenons in this regard.
This! It's more the proliferation of SUVs with high-mounted lights that exacerbates the problem.
Matrix LED prevents the main beam from dazzling followed or oncoming traffic and I've yet to be flashed whilst using them.
That said they are main-beam only and this article is referring to the standard dipped beam.
It's possible for the system to take a split-second to react but it's still way faster than any human could react and dip their main beam.
Hahaha! On what grounds? The police would laugh in your face.
Cyclists can get stuffed tbh. You all seem to ride around with the most glaring, flashing, annoying LED lights fixed to the front of your bikes at night these days, which dazzle way more than oncoming cars do. At least cars' lights have to be properly aligned, there's nothing to stop cyclists strapping a portable sun to their handlebars.
Soldato
Agree, new minis are terrible!
In all seriousness, properly aligned lights under ideal conditions won't dazzle anyone regardless of technology, that's what the regulations governing alignment and beam patterns and so forth are for.
The issue is when the conditions aren't quite ideal, i.e. an undulating road bumpy road which causes the lights to momentarily aim higher than normal, temporarily dazzling oncoming or followed traffic. That's always been an issue, it's just that it becomes more of a problem the brighter the lights get.
So, because you can't always ensure that headlights won't shine into someone else's eyes for whatever reason, we should all be forced to drive around with inferior lights? Which is more of a hazard?
The issue is when the conditions aren't quite ideal, i.e. an undulating road bumpy road which causes the lights to momentarily aim higher than normal, temporarily dazzling oncoming or followed traffic. That's always been an issue, it's just that it becomes more of a problem the brighter the lights get.
So, because you can't always ensure that headlights won't shine into someone else's eyes for whatever reason, we should all be forced to drive around with inferior lights? Which is more of a hazard?
Are you saying matrix adjusts itself for driving in the same direction in front of you as well as those oncoming on the other side? Because it's sometimes like having a chopper with it's floodlight on you, it completely fills your cabin and mirrors.
Be reasonable, cycle lamps are not worse than modern car lights.
Yep. If I'm following another car on a dark road, it'll cut a hole in the beam pattern so not to dazzle the guy in front but still illuminate to the sides of them. It's amazing to watch.
I'm serious. I'm dazzled far more by oncoming cyclists at night than I am oncoming cars. Cycle lights should be "dipped" like a car's, aimed at the road surface in front of the cyclist but most seem to just bolt what is basically an LED torch to the handlebars and point it straight forward for maximum illumination with no consideration for other road users.
Soldato
Yes it was indeed aimed at brand new cars.
From what I've seen working at Ford, headlights are set somewhere near from factory, but it is on the PDI checklist that they should be adjusted on a beam setter, I'd imagine it's the same for most brands of cars, and something a lot of people probably don't bother with as it means taking a car off a ramp onto a potentially busy MOT ramp just to set up the aim. I always do it on a PDI as dazzling headlights are not something I like!
Also, any kind of self-leveling system is going to be useless when they are set wrong to begin with.
With which part of that do I need help with?
Soldato
That's when they just ram the bulb in with having no clue how they are supposed to fit
LOL - Actually I did think that
Soldato
This is a pet peeve of mine, I get it all the time in my 330ci which is a bit lower than a 'normal car' but not exactly a supercar! For me it seems to be a wide range of new(er) cars that cause it, not just the "SUV" brigade. The biggest problem is when the lights out-shines their indicators - a couple of times I have not had any idea someone is indicating as the indicator flash is so dull in comparison. I am glad someone (important) has finally noticed.