headlights on new cars to bright or is it me?

[path1]

I see eye dr every year, mid 60's, 20/20 with bi-focles for close up stuff. Dr says my eyes OK.
I notice that newer cars headlights are supper bright. Just me or anybody else notice this?

[ScottG]

Yes, some times they are "too" bright but they also allow people to see better as well.
I think it's worth it.

[TUCQUALA]

Back in the '70s and early '80s, lots of people where installing "european" headlights in their vehicles. Used halogen bulbs, good glass with mirrored interiors. BUT, the DOT considered them illegal!! Not a sealed beam, water could get into lamp causing corrosion and deterioration of light output.

Look at what we got now!! Plastic lenses that yellow and fog, crack easily, water inside!!! Don't know what happened to the DOT and headlight regs, but seems like they don't do anything about it anymore. You'd think they would be all over the car mfgs for the poor quality lamp assys nowdays and make them replace them with a good glass assy.

And, as to the newer led stuff and aftermarket stuff, they seem to be completely missing in action!! Go figger!!

[ViewOfAKindArt_]

its great visibility if you are the one driving with the bright lights, but there are some that I have to look away rom like dodge guy said. They have gotten better tech to be a brighter and more efficient stream of light

[Tin_Pusher]

Yeah, they are often too bright. I like when cars had FOUR headlights. Then you knew if someone was brighting you. Can't tell anymore...

[ppine]

I agree with you path1. Some are modern lights and some are after market. I especially don't like the blue ones. I avoid driving at night except for local area. Came down off Mt Davidson in a snow storm last night near Virginia City, NV but there was no one on the road.

[campinginthewoo]

What is worse is the drivers using the LED light bars as driving lights. I'm talking the 6-8 inch LED lightbars mounted on the bumper and are blinding. A lot of semi's have them on plus reg headlights and fog lights plus some passenger cars and pickup trucks run them which the package states are off road use only yet see them on the roads all the time. LED lights maybe great but suck while driving into their blinding lights

[Lynnmor]

Studies show that the new stylish headlights are a problem. Headlight article

The current crop of designs are more about style and aerodynamics and less about safety and function.

[Community Alumni]

I use the yellow tint glasses while riding my motorcycle at night. They dramatically reduce the glare and make things a bit brighter and clearer without hurting my eyes. I am thinking about getting a pair for my truck.

[SidecarFlip]

Steeljag wrote:
It is mostly the knuckleheads who replace their own, and do not aim them correctly ! Or, newer vehicles carrying loads in the rear, and Motorcycles who also change their own and don’t plan for a fat passenger !

Nice to know I'm a knucklehead, well, I'm an old one at least. Replaced my halogen bulbs with LED bulbs and yes they are bright. I can actually see down the road now. Amazing technology.

[FrankShore]

Headlights like that, suck! It isn't just you!

[Sam_Spade]

path1 wrote:

I notice that newer cars headlights are supper bright. Just me or anybody else notice this?

Yes they ARE.

But the ones that are a serious problem are the ones that moronic owners have messed with. Converted to HID and not aimed properly or jacked up pickups where it is impossible to aim them properly......so that they shine in exactly the wrong place, coming or going.

But....ask your eye doctor specifically about cataracts. I think I heard that everybody over 50 has that to some degree and they often show up first with bright lights.

[Ductape]

jfkmk wrote:
Yes, the new headlight technology has made headlights much brighter than the ever were and that's a good thing.

The bad thing is a lot of people put on poorly engineered aftermarket headlights (brighter) but are not aimed properly. Others simply add LED bulbs into their halogen fixtures. They are not designed the same way and, especially if not realigned for the new bulb (and I suspect most are not) the result is blinding light in the eyes of oncoming traffic.

This. It's the people buying aftermarket "improved" lamps that are the ones causing the worst glare. I for one would welcome the return of mandatory vehicle inspections in my home state IF they would force the removal of all those non DOT compliant lights.

[Steeljag]

It is mostly the knuckleheads who replace their own, and do not aim them correctly ! Or, newer vehicles carrying loads in the rear, and Motorcycles who also change their own and don’t plan for a fat passenger !

[jfkmk]

Yes, the new headlight technology has made headlights much brighter than the ever were and that's a good thing.

The bad thing is a lot of people put on poorly engineered aftermarket headlights (brighter) but are not aimed properly. Others simply add LED bulbs into their halogen fixtures. They are not designed the same way and, especially if not realigned for the new bulb (and I suspect most are not) the result is blinding light in the eyes of oncoming traffic.

[Scottiemom]

We don't drive a lot at night, but when I got my new glasses the doctor asked if I wanted the coating that reduced the nighttime glare on car headlights. I said sure. Wow. What a difference. Doesn't darken anything, but it sure makes driving at night more pleasurable. I don't have cataracts or anything like that and wasn't really bothered a lot by them, but I am glad I got this.

Dale