Getting blinded by headlights

[Dino]

This is not about Chargers but about modern cars with the new types of headlights.  Maybe it's just me but it seems the difference between low and high beam is fading.  I get blinded by cars every day, sometimes I am convinced that they have their brights on so I flash my lights and they do the same, guess they weren't on after all.  My brother has a car with those lights and he says other drivers flash their lights at him all the time.  He's so fed up with it he's looking into having them replaced with regular bulbs. 

I drive on dark country roads every day so the lights are extra bright but even in town I find myself trying to switch the rear view mirror to night which works fine in the Charger but not in my Honda which has one of those auto dimming mirrors.  Total crap by the way.

Some cars, while obviously having really bright lights, are not too bad but some models are just ridiculously bright.


Anyone else have this issue?

[68X426]

Me too. Everyone I know has it happen too. 

[Ghoste]

I think it's going to be pretty much across the board that it has happened to us.

[jb666]

Agreed 100%... I hate driving at night now.

[Indygenerallee]

My Daytona will have HID lights when done!! 

[charge69]

Anytime someone puts HID lights in a headlight assembly originally meant for halogen bulbs that will happen. On cars factory equipped with HID lights they will have a sharp cutoff at the left side specifically designed not to blind an oncoming driver.

Putting HID bulbs in an old-style headlamp assembly guarantees blinding oncoming drivers and is irritating as hell. It really doesn't help the driver see that much better and just irritates oncoming drivers. Factory HID lights, the white ones, are about 4300K and as you go to a higher K value (5000,6000,8000, etc.) the color shifts from a blue to a purple looking light and though it may look cool, the driver's ability to see in the dark is actually diminished. At least that is my experience. YMMV

[Fred]

Those dark country roads are a pain in the bum. I've seriously thought about wearing sunglasses.

[Charger RT]

18.5 miles of my 20 miles drive to work is on a two lane unlit 60 mph road that is bordered by dairy farms or orange groves. Its been dark for the last month on the morning ride and it does seem there are more cars with these bright lights then last year. I almost can't wait for the fog for the morning drive at least there lights are not as bad. Last week my son was driving his friend home on that road and a car was coming with the extra bright lights and he was unable to see a buck jump out in front of him. At least the kids weren't hurt the 9 point buck and the car can't say the same. 
Tim

[Fred]

Glad to hear the kids are safe. Sad about the buck.  And the car.....well, that's just one big inconvenience you can do without.
We have to look out for wallabies and wombats here. Always sad to them laying dead by the roadside.

[1969chargerrtse]

That's a problem for sure.  Here's a crazy idea I tried and it worked fine.  At night I would wear sunglasses low on my nose.  When one of those headache hurting cars came by I would tilt my head up and look through the shaded part, then drop my head down when the cars past.  This really worked fine.  I must of been going through a low vitamin stage because they don't bother me as much anymore.  What I try to train myself to do is STOP STARING AT THEM approaching me.  That helps to.  My pet peeve is the A holes that do drive with high beams on.  

[tan top]

 yeah me too , 

 driving at nights  a pain with these new headlamps  , like a flash light being shined in your eyes !! pretty dangerous  especialy if its a narrow street with parked cars , some steps out in front , would not see as quick  , cause being dazzled with the damn HDI lights    

[chargd72]

I will have to disagree with the majority on this one.  I think that it only "seems" brighter because the HID lights attract your attention more.  Once more and more cars are equipped with these and they become as common as the typical halogen, they won't stick out as often and allow you to focus on the road.

[Ghoste]

I don't know if it seems brighter or it really is but I do know my eyes hurt whenever I get zapped by one of them.

[JB400]

Police spotlight in your rearview mirror don't help the eyes either.  I'd be halfway tempted to turn one back at them.

[68X426]

it only "seems" brighter 

we therefore only "seem" to be blinded ?

Don't think so.

[chargd72]

it only "seems" brighter  

we therefore only "seem" to be blinded ?

Don't think so.

What is was getting at is that it catches your attention causing you to look directly at it.  If you look directly at halogen lights do you get any less dazed?  My guess would be no.  But I'm just speaking from my experience.

[stripedelete]

I wonder how much age has to do with it.  I'm pushing 50 and seems, on some nights, they all bother me more than they used to. 

Are they bothering anyone under 30?

[chargd72]

I wonder how much age has to do with it.  I'm pushing 50 and seems, on some nights, they all bother me more than they used to. 

Are they bothering anyone under 30?

I am 30, and no.

[68X426]

Are they bothering anyone under 30?

Age, or blood alcohol level? 

it catches your attention causing you to look directly at it. 

Which blinds the oncoming driver. 

Yes, I'm blinded by looking at regular lights too. Yes I'm old.

The under 30 crowd will look into the sun and not notice anything, so I'm not sure that's a good sample group.. 

[stripedelete]

Are they bothering anyone under 30?

Age, or blood alcohol level? 

it catches your attention causing you to look directly at it. 

Which blinds the oncoming driver. 

Yes, I'm blinded by looking at regular lights too. Yes I'm old.

The under 30 crowd will look into the sun and not notice anything, so I'm not sure that's a good sample group.. 

I'll thow one more in: How many bothered by them have had Lasik? (or wear glsses or contacts) 

About 12/13 years for me.  Noticed some changes in my night vision even back then.

[69rtse4spd]

I wonder how much age has to do with it.  I'm pushing 50 and seems, on some nights, they all bother me more than they used to. 

Are they bothering anyone under 30?

53 here, but yes they bother my also, worse when it is raining. Learned in driver training to look at the edge of the road (the white line) till they pass. But sometimes you just want to toss a handful of rocks at them. .

[tan top]

I wonder how much age has to do with it.  I'm pushing 50 and seems, on some nights, they all bother me more than they used to. 

Are they bothering anyone under 30?

Are they bothering anyone under 30?

Age, or blood alcohol level? 

it catches your attention causing you to look directly at it. 

Which blinds the oncoming driver. 

Yes, I'm blinded by looking at regular lights too. Yes I'm old.

The under 30 crowd will look into the sun and not notice anything, so I'm not sure that's a good sample group.. 

you could be on to something here 

[FLG]

Try driving a very lowered car, i get blinded by about everything. Its not fun.

[hatersaurusrex]

Am I the only one that hears this song in my head every time I see this thread topic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2-GqYkwjTM

[Fred]

Am I the only one that hears this song in my head every time I see this thread topic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2-GqYkwjTM

I don't hear it.   All I hear in my head is cursing.