Are we OK with how bright headlights are getting?

[MattB4]

... I mean, it really makes no difference if they are blinding me at full power or half power, they are blinding me either way so I might as well return favor?

...

This is a bad idea. One driver blinded is a hazard but both drivers blinded is an accident.

Now that I am old I try to avoid nighttime drives. Those times of driving when lights from oncoming traffic was such that I could barely see is not worth dealing with anymore.

 

[strantor]

This is a bad idea. One driver blinded is a hazard but both drivers blinded is an accident.

Now that I am old I try to avoid nighttime drives. Those times of driving when lights from oncoming traffic was such that I could barely see is not worth dealing with anymore.

you're not wrong. That's just me being childish. I'll stop.

 

[dodge man]

The problem is if you are on the outside of a curve or the other car crests a hill just right headlights that normally wouldn’t blind you are up in your eyes.

 

[Jstpssng]

There is a construction zone on the interstate where they merge the two northbound lanes to one; and southbound uses the other lane to cross over a bridge; using jersey barriers to keep the two apart. Just as you come onto it southbound, the other lane is a bit higher and on a curve; so their lights blind you just at the wrong time.
I try to get there before dark; otherwise I will get off at the previous exit and go around.

 

[ruffdog]

you're not wrong. That's just me being childish. I'll stop.

In the old days people could see that a car is coming from the other direction BEFORE it would crest the hill. You would dim your lights BEFORE you blinded the other driver. Now it seems many drivers only dim their lights AFTER you repeatedly flash at them. It does piss a person off though. Thank goodness I don't drive as much as I use to.

 

[5030]

Last time I checked, NO add on light bar is approved for on road use and they all have a sticker on them that plainly states that, not that idiots pay any attention to the sticker because having an add on light bar is 'cool'.

If I was a cop, I'd be writing a ton of tickets for them as well as poorly aimed headlights.

Both our vehicles have auto on headlights. If the wipers are on, the headlights are as well. If it's low light (dusk), they are on as well. Both our vehicles have the 'driving-fog' lights we never use. My pickup truck (97), I refitted with HID lamps but I also took the time to properly aim them and far as loaded, I have air bags on the back so if I have the camper in the bed or a heavy load, I use the bags to level it.

I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt with high beams but if everything fails, I just switch on my KC Daylighters and fry their eyeballs and it usually takes a split second for them to dim their lights. By that time however, I've fried their eyeballs anyway.

 

[QRTRHRS]

In the old days people could see that a car is coming from the other direction BEFORE it would crest the hill. You would dim your lights BEFORE you blinded the other driver. Now it seems many drivers only dim their lights AFTER you repeatedly flash at them. It does piss a person off though. Thank goodness I don't drive as much as I use to.

Perhaps people are no longer taught to look for the reflection on overhead utility wires or guard rails coming into curves or approaching hills?

 

[RjCorazza]

Perhaps people are no longer taught to look for the reflection on overhead utility wires or guard rails coming into curves or approaching hills?

I've noticed this also. I was taught (and common sense would also dictate) to observe power lines of whatever may be reflecting an oncoming car's headlights.
I definitely relayed all that kinda stuff to my daughter when I taught her how to drive, and she is a courteous (and safe) driver!

 

[etpm]

I, like so many here, am older and really appreciate brighter headlights. But I have my lights adjusted on my truck, a Tundra, so that they point low. My other cars don't have the extremely bright lights. And I am always trying to dim my lights well before I see the car. It is almost always possible to see the other car's headlights before you see the car on a curvy road, and on straight roads there is plenty of time to dim my lights before they start to blind an oncoming car. But you know what? I too am guilty of sometimes putting my brights on when an oncoming car refuses to dim their lights. I shouldn't do so but it really pisses me off when someone is so inconsiderate.
Eric

 

[Jstpssng]

I've noticed this also. I was taught (and common sense would also dictate) to observe power lines of whatever may be reflecting an oncoming car's headlights.
I definitely relayed all that kinda stuff to my daughter when I taught her how to drive, and she is a courteous (and safe) driver!

I stopped doing that when manufacturers started installing halogen headlights. They were bright enough so that people didn't always realize you had dimmed them, so if the road was straight I would wait until they could see the lights dim.

I still watch the wires, just don't dim my lights as soon.