RAC says new headlights 'blinding drivers'
- Thread starter Eddie
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Associate
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Whilst not all may have been new cars, they're the same type of lights, does it really matter?
"Two-thirds of drivers say they are "regularly dazzled" by oncoming headlights even though they are dipped", it doesn't say the respondents were counting.. In the darker months I would say I was dazzled by Xenon or LED lights on a SUV at least once a week, which I would say is regularly. I wasn't keeping a tally though.
So are you saying it isn't a problem at all?
Soldato
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I remember when my headlights on the MG died, after leaving the petrol station on a night time. It was actually far easier to see at night at streetlight roads with no headlights. I got plenty of flashes though
I don't think it's much of an issue to do with the bulbs but more an alignment, or badly fitted (for those chavs retrofitting xenons).
I've seen LED's on newer BMW/Audi/Mercedes from behind or infront that aren't dazzling, but still light up the road nicely.
The biggest issue for me is when you have a SUV, van, or lorry behind you, and the line of light is straight for your rear mirror or side mirrors. It feels like the sun has just landed on your rear seats, and if anything actually makes it quite dangerous to drive, as you're unlikely to see anything infront of you.
I've seen LED's on newer BMW/Audi/Mercedes from behind or infront that aren't dazzling, but still light up the road nicely.
The biggest issue for me is when you have a SUV, van, or lorry behind you, and the line of light is straight for your rear mirror or side mirrors. It feels like the sun has just landed on your rear seats, and if anything actually makes it quite dangerous to drive, as you're unlikely to see anything infront of you.
my mx5s rear view mirror is always folded up. Otherwise I'm blinded.. wonder if they'll start failing MOT when the time comes? or have to have their lights re-aligned ? as I often see only NEW like less than 3yrs old cars blinding me front/back.
quite an interesting document comparing bmw/audi/merc/lexus matrix lights from 2014 models, (only just becoming legal in USA)
showing additional reasons why bmw might be blinding/flashed vs audi (I'm partisan)
characteristics I had not considered, excerpt beneath
- lux(light intensity, NOT total lumens) seen by incoming cars, ability not to dazzle a bicycle, light adaption times
(they're their highlights)
excerpt
showing additional reasons why bmw might be blinding/flashed vs audi (I'm partisan)
characteristics I had not considered, excerpt beneath
- lux(light intensity, NOT total lumens) seen by incoming cars, ability not to dazzle a bicycle, light adaption times
(they're their highlights)
excerpt
personally I think you're all just moaning minnies. I work late hours and do a lot of night time driving. I can't say I recall anybody's headlights being too bright. I don't get bothered by it at all. I'm obviously weird !
Not weird at all. I have never had issues with proper OEM headlights (aside from a Range Rover or two). The only time I've had issues are when HIDs have been installed in reflectors, or someone hasn't fitted a normal halogen bulb properly and it's throwing light everywhere but the road.
New ones usually do no? It's the older cars with retrofitted or badly fitted ones that are the main issue
All factory fit ones auto level I think. Retrofits will get picked up next time MOT tests come around anyway. I can't imagine to many people opting to re-fit OEM ones every time the test comes around either so hopefully they will vanish from the roads.
They do. It's been the law since HIDs were introduced that either the headlight should be self-levelling, or have self-levelling rear suspension, as well as washers. Newer LEDs can get around the washers due to a lower lumens output (I think).
Soldato
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Having had 2 lowish cars recently (mini/TT) I get dazzled a lot, but its because I drive down narrow roads.
All the new headlights do it, you can tell they are properly fitted ones as you can see them adjusting for the road level.
I hate being followed by them, its like someone is flashing me because they keep adjusting to the road level and going up and down, I can see my lights doing just the same.
The older halogen lights had a poor cut off so you would always get some light from behind, all that would happen is that as you went over bumps the intensity would go up and down.
With Xenons/LEDs they have such a sharp cutoff its all or nothing.
The issue is when facing oncoming close traffic your trying to focus on the road at the end of your dipped beam realistically if doing a half decent speed. Sooner or later you get to the point where an oncoming vehicle is around that point, if at that point the road undulates and their beam moves just a few degrees upwards you are likely to briefly stare at the light with no masking effect, there is no way your eyes aren't going to react to a sudden increase in light output at the distance your looking at by not adjusting.
If your mainly driving on major roads or in areas with other light sources your likely affected but to a limited amount. Certainly having other light sources helps keep your bearings so the feeling of losing vision is massively reduced. However if your drive down unlit roads and have oncoming vehicles taking a close line to you then its just a natural reaction to the sudden high light level your eyes detect. Its a temporary blindness as your eyes adjust both to reduce the incoming light then have to readjust backwards once the car coming the opposite way, the source of high light output has passed.
LEDs are the saviour here. They will get better and better at closing down the areas of the matrix that cause vehicles in front issues.
I rarely use full beam when driving now, as your eyes adjust to the light output the impact of having to drop to dip beam seems worse than just driving to dip with occasional use of full beam.
Slowing down a little and driving to this distance when your on anything but decent roads isn't necessarily a bad thing to do at night anyway.
All the new headlights do it, you can tell they are properly fitted ones as you can see them adjusting for the road level.
I hate being followed by them, its like someone is flashing me because they keep adjusting to the road level and going up and down, I can see my lights doing just the same.
The older halogen lights had a poor cut off so you would always get some light from behind, all that would happen is that as you went over bumps the intensity would go up and down.
With Xenons/LEDs they have such a sharp cutoff its all or nothing.
The issue is when facing oncoming close traffic your trying to focus on the road at the end of your dipped beam realistically if doing a half decent speed. Sooner or later you get to the point where an oncoming vehicle is around that point, if at that point the road undulates and their beam moves just a few degrees upwards you are likely to briefly stare at the light with no masking effect, there is no way your eyes aren't going to react to a sudden increase in light output at the distance your looking at by not adjusting.
If your mainly driving on major roads or in areas with other light sources your likely affected but to a limited amount. Certainly having other light sources helps keep your bearings so the feeling of losing vision is massively reduced. However if your drive down unlit roads and have oncoming vehicles taking a close line to you then its just a natural reaction to the sudden high light level your eyes detect. Its a temporary blindness as your eyes adjust both to reduce the incoming light then have to readjust backwards once the car coming the opposite way, the source of high light output has passed.
LEDs are the saviour here. They will get better and better at closing down the areas of the matrix that cause vehicles in front issues.
I rarely use full beam when driving now, as your eyes adjust to the light output the impact of having to drop to dip beam seems worse than just driving to dip with occasional use of full beam.
Slowing down a little and driving to this distance when your on anything but decent roads isn't necessarily a bad thing to do at night anyway.
In fairness how were they supposed to know that making headlights significantly brighter than they were a decade ago would cause them to give out more light
Agree this is the most dangerous scenario, someone in suv who does not know the width of their car (it's like the narrow car parking space debate) so your ability to see edge/avoid car is reduced because of dazzle;
I can't but believe lights have been mentioned in insurance claims.
Not sure whether the sharp cut-off is genuinely a result of improved optics and efficiciency (more uniform light intensity within the permitted area) or is there another explanation - a shield cuts the edge of beam, but since they are more powerful do not mind the 'lost' light, less heat dissipation needed anyway.
same here. In DC2 Spoiler was right on my Eyes so no porblem. In 350Z cant see **** when someone with SUV or whateve is behind me. Monday on way from Doncaster got blinded 2 times. Had 2 brake second time cause could not se **** :/
Guess I need 2 order new pair opf driving glasses like i had In DC2 helps.... a bit.
BMW have definitely improved the reaction times of their system.
My 2011 E91 (HID) had auto-highbeam and it worked generally well but was sometimes sluggish to respond, requiring my intervention on numerous occasions.
My 2015 F20 (LED) had auto-highbeam and it worked more reliably than the E91 system, and was faster to respond. I never needed to intervene though was close on a couple of occasions.
My 2015 F80 (LED) has the fancy fully adaptive beam splitting system and it's noticeably faster than the standard adaptive system in the F20. I've been seriously impressed with the lighting so far.
I believe the report is only for the adaptive systems and not for the auto high/low beam so what you have in your F80