Dazzling headlights

[mbev51]

The bright white lights are the worst for me

[rab60bit]

Originally Posted by SD1too

Have any members, as I have, noticed a large increase in the number of oncoming headlights which dazzle (and sometimes almost blind) on single carriageway unlit roads in dry, clear weather conditions?

The amount of dazzle seems to vary from when the oncoming vehicle first comes into view to when we pass each other. Often the beam appears to be "bouncing" which makes me think that it could be automatic beam adjustment not doing the job for which it was designed.

I can easily identify older vehicles, like mine, which have standard halogen bulbs by the warmer colour of the light and they are never a problem. It's newer cars with LED units which are the suspects.

Is anyone else bothered by this?

Simon

Same here Simon. There are a lot more sham off-roaders and other 4x4 style vehicles where the headlights are mounted higher (although still code legal), that's one reason.
Another is there appears to be a lot more 'bounce' in suspensions, either that or it's the shocking state of many of our roads and/or the self levelling isn't good enough to compensate for what I think is people driving at much higher speeds at night (perhaps because they've got 'better' lights??) since I'm distracted by what I'd describe as flickering dazzle.
To me the main lights on more modern cars are nowhere near as big (dimensional height) as older designs - some look little more than horizontal slots. If there is less deflection between main and dipped beam and main beam is generally now higher off the level ground set datum anyway then even small bumps/depressions will exaggerate 'apparent' movement between the two.
Kelvin light temperature above 5K is really dazzling in it's own right which also doesn't help.
Whatever causes it, I like you suffer.

Originally Posted by SD1too

the nearside verge is often hidden in darkness.

Your lights should illuminate the nearside verge.

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Bazzateer

Your lights should illuminate the nearside verge.

Ha ha, nice one Barry! Well that's certainly the theory I agree, but in practice when you have one of these dazzling LED monsters bearing down upon you your own headlights might just as well be a pair of candles.

Simon