Is it me or are headlights becoming too bright?

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland) 01/11/2018 at 11:55 • Filed to: get off my lawn

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In the last few years I’ve noticed that headlights have become increasingly bright. This has resulted in me questioning whether I should be bright flashing people (other than jeep bros with light bars) to make them aware that they are driving around with their brights on blinding oncoming cars.

My other hypothesis is that I am getting older and things just seem too bright to me and my eyes can’t take it. Same for music, it’s all easy listening these days no more 90's alt rock or 2000's SoCal alt rock revival.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:18

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Yes, agreed. Half the reason I tint my windows is so I am not blinded from behind at night

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By 01/11/2018 at 12:19

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My car has a 50% tint on the rear window, I appreciate it at night when I’m being tailgated through town by a full size truck.

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:20

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according to the IIHS they aren’t becoming too bright enough. But I agree. Lights are getting WAY brighter. its funny, people complain about the lights on the 80 series. I think they are great! maybe I’m just not picky. Okay the lights on the GX REALLY stink because of the clouded assembly but other than that.

Nothing > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:21

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They are brighter. Made worse by people putting super bright bulbs in their hazy headlight housings, too. I hate the super bright/blue headlights on nearly everything now. It is not easy on the eyes.

The proliferation of light bars doesn’t help. I’ve seen stock RAV4s with light bars turned on driving around here. Plenty of light in this fairly populated area.

HammerheadFistpunch > Nothing 01/11/2018 at 12:24

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I turn on my lightbar on the road, but ONLY with no other cars. i.e. highway 191 late at night, coming into my neighborhood (blind corners and kids) etc. Eventually these are going to start getting cracked down on. It will be interesting.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 12:25

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I consider the lights on my 2006 Mazda some of the best I’ve ever had for illumination and good coverage. Most of the issues I have are the newer LED ultra bright bluish tint lights. They are like razors in my eyes. New Escalade, new jeeps, new ford trucks, they are all bluish tint LED, and I hate them.

Wacko > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:26

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especially for the last corolla.

i hate them with a passion. and since a corolla is owned by an average toyota corolla drive you think they are still on their high beams, but nope. this is all toyota and not driver fault

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 12:27

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I’m okay with light bars if used responsibly, like night hunting or keeping the forest illuminated for the kegger.

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:28

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I hear you completely. That being said, I am super jelly of my moms grand touring CX-5...those lights are the biz, even if they are on the blue side. p.s. who decided cool colors are better for lights anyway? cause they look more expensive or something? the photometrics of blue light versus yellow light aren’t really different at all, btw.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 12:29

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I have not driven my mom’s CX-5 at night, now I’m curious. She has a 2015 Touring.

Nothing > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 12:31

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It’s almost like the ones I see are wired to constant on. So many on during daylight hours, too. I don’t mind light bars when used responsibly.

When I lived in northern NY, I had Hella driving lights on my CRX, the type specified for off road use only. I’d drive with those on, given how dark most country roads are and how suicidal deer can be. They were tied to my high beams, though.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:33

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My mom always told me that if I can see either headlights or taillights on another car, I should turn my brights off. This is something that the people of Louisiana can’t seem to understand. I’ve seen bozos driving down the freeway with their brights on. Dumbasses.

That being said, there’s also an issue with low beams being too bright; with people driving with a lift or a load without adjusting their headlight beams; and people running projection lamps in non-projection housings . Oh yeah, and people with misaligned fog/driving lights which shouldn’t be on in the first place.

CalzoneGolem > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:34

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As I am not a Weezer fan I did not know what video I was watching and I thought Hef said that wiener had a new album.

These new light play hell with my eyes when I wear my glasses. It creates this ghost blue image next to the lights.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By 01/11/2018 at 12:36

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Autodimming rear view mirror is a godsend! I love it in my STi

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:39

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It’s all about proper aiming of the headlight housing. Modern HID (factory installed in projector housing) seems to work just fine without blinding other people. I agree that retrofitting older housings to use improper lights is most certainly annoying. There is nothing you can do about idiots leaving high beams on but lowbeams being installed properly certainly is important.

PartyPooper2012 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 12:46

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You’re not younger... but the headlights are definitely brighter.

I used to flash people who I thought were driving with their brights on... until few of them flashed at me and burned the back of my head...

I feel like I need to wear sunglasses at night....

So I can so I can
Watch you weave then breathe your story lines
And I wear my sunglasses at night
So I can so I can
Keep track of the visions in my eyes

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:00

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I was literally having this thought while driving home from work last night.

I chalked it up to brighter lights, as I don’t want to acknowledge the fact that my body is starting to deteriorate at 38 years old.

/goes outside to yell at clouds

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:05

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hers is the new one, not sure if the lights are the same. They are like lasers.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:08

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I also drive a lower to the ground car, when I’m driving a full size truck or the Explorer it doesn’t seem to be as bad.

Stapleface > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:25

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I think it’s probably a combination of things.

To me, LED lights just seem “harsher” to me, and harder on the eyes. Maybe it’s the color, I dunno. Maybe they are brighter as far as lumens go.

Also, vehicles are getting larger. As such, any one of us with a small car now have headlights shining right in our eyes.

And then I think you have the subset of people who just will buy LEDs or HIDs to put into housings where they don’t belong, which causes horrible scatter.

Driving in the night is a PITA to me because dusk screws my vision up, and because my eyesight isn’t what it used to be (which was never good to begin with).

Ash78, voting early and often > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:30

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I’ve been saying this since halogen projectors first came out. Then HIDs. Then LEDs.

It’s getting worse. And “good” headlights are overrated and overhyped, just like 4k TVs.

Khalbali > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:31

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I feel the same way and also can’t tell most of the time.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:32

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Chrysler 300s are the worst from what I’ve seen. And I see a lot of the newer cars around the Detroit metro area, but almost without fail, if I see a super bright set of headlights heading my way, it’s from a 300. And I’ve also been noticing the Chevy and GMC trucks as well, but some of that is just due to the overall height difference between them and me in a sedan. But the 300s seem to be aimed a bit too high, across the board. And to make it worse is when the chuckleheads have to have their fog lights on as well.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 13:34

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“Laaasers”

facw > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 13:37

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IIHS is right that a lot of headlight suck. The problem isn’t so much brightness though, as getting the light to where it is needed.

I think it is a positive that they are testing for it though, as it will drive companies to do better (and IIRC, their tests do count blinding oncoming traffic against headlights).

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Ash78, voting early and often 01/11/2018 at 13:39

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4K TV’s in the 50" or larger range are legit.

Spoon II > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:47

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They’re totally getting worse. The big thing is, it’s my understanding that a lot of new low beams are essentially just high beams angled down. This is of little help when you’re on a hill or the other car hits a bump. I’m surprised there isn’t some regulated maximum output for car bulbs in low and high beam configurations.

gmctavish needs more space > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:52

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I’m in my early 20s and I think headlights are way too bright, and mounted/aimed too high, so I don’t think it’s an age thing. However I am very nearsighted, I’ve wondered if the glare and haloing is made worse by my contacts somehow.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Khalbali 01/11/2018 at 13:56

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Generally when high beams are on you are totally fucking blinded. Normal too bright low beams are just somewhat blinded.

BigBlock440 > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 01/11/2018 at 13:59

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I’m 10 years younger and still think they’re too bright, and have been saying it for a few years.

BigBlock440 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 14:05

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They’re worse. One of the problems is with the high and low beams using the same bulb/filament and using a shade to make them “low beams”. That might work on flat ground, but any kind of hills or bumps, and you’re giving oncoming drivers the full high-beam.

They’re also bright enough that I’ve turned my lights off completely and driven by the lights of the person behind me, as their lights were brighter than mine. I’m not sure if they got it.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/11/2018 at 15:22

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Same, got all 3 auto diming in my a4, awesome invention

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 15:37

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The worst headlights on any vehicle I have are the ones on my newest car - the ‘87 Benz. At least, the lowbeams. The Ford and the Rover seem to get more than enough function out of 5" and 7" rounds, but for some reason the positioning of the H4-powered assemblies, windshield clarity(?) and so on on the Benz just make the lighting horrible. Dire. The lenses aren’t clouded, the elements are fresh, aim is okay, but somehow it’s bad enough to seem to make a case for sealed beams.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 15:40

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I keep experiencing the total cockery that is people tailgating me with their brights on. Hate.

vicali > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 16:04

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Yes, I blame cheap ebay LED/HID in halogen lights..

On the other hand, me with my new BajaDesigns;

Berang > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 16:06

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It’s mostly just people sticking bright bulbs in older assemblies, or poorly aimed projectors. Also, lots of people are just stupid and leave their brights on.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 17:24

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No I agree. I think they are getting brighter too. I think they are aimed too high as well. Like a nice projector housing aimed slightly below horizon should not blind most.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/12/2018 at 08:27

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The auto- dimming mirror in my WRX sucks. I can’t count the number of times I wished for a switch to manually dim the mirror. That being said, the one in our Outback seems to work much better. The difference is, I think, the rear window tinting, or lack thereof, in my WRX.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/12/2018 at 20:20

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Does it have a button to turn off the dimming? I know mine does and I have yet to need it, but it’s nice to know I can undim it. I absolutely hate rear window tinting, then it’s like an auto dimmer you can’t turn off! Depends on how dark the tint is and how well it was applied though of course.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/12/2018 at 20:47

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Mine doesn’t. I’d really like to have a button so I could dim it on demand. It’s either on and autodimming or off and not. Off also turns off the built in compass.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/12/2018 at 20:52

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Well yeah that’s what I meant, I don’t think there’s a way to turn on dimming, just to turn it off. I’ve never been blinded by it though and wished I could dim it on command. I’ve definitely noticed the difference though when driving home in my Miata. I’m just like fuck what is all this damn bright light I’m not used to anymore. Then I realize Oh yeah auto dimming is the best!

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 12/03/2018 at 11:23

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I have to wear super dark sunglasses at night. My migraines are triggered by flashing lights. The constant on off light of passing cars is murder on my brain. Next step is my auto darkening welding helmet ;) It’s not as bad in my Xterra as it is higher up, but my Subaru is unbearable sometimes. I’ve missed enough days of work already, And ef the a-holes that feel the need to run their light bars 24/7. It is a well illuminated city. Please turn them off. One of the few issues I wish “the man” would crack down on.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > GoodIdeaAtTheTime 12/03/2018 at 11:26

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Oh that’s terrible. I couldn’t imagine. I’ve gotten a few m igraines in my entire life and it is debilitating.

MGS315 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 12/03/2018 at 12:14

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Aye I reckon lights in general are brighter. I’ve got two vehicles currently (my own 2007 Alfa 147 and a 2018 Vauxhall Corsa van for work ). I get flashed in the van a couple of times a week despite me dropping the beam as low as it’ll go. They look pretty damn well aligned when I stick them on a wall too. I always drive both in urban areas so no idea if one is noticeably brighter than the other.

Never flashed in the Alfa.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 12/03/2018 at 13:11

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I average 1 or 2 a week. Usually takes anywhere from 12 hours to 48 hours of absolute darkness, almost no noise, and sometimes lots and lots of medications to get through it. When I was younge r it was much much worse as I didn’t have the knowledge I do now . Worst part was n o one believed me at the time.