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Old 23rd January 2022, 09:43   #1
SD1too
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Default Dazzling headlights

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
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Old 23rd January 2022, 10:22   #2
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Some newer cars have speed dependant headlights where the beam is shorter round town then extends further forward at speed automatically as it’s deemed that at speed your more likely to be on the open road. Throw in corner lights that illuminate when on lock so if your turning it lights up the kerb to ensure nobody is going to step out and things get brighter. Our family everyday car has LED headlights and I get flashed at constantly because people think I’m on main beam, I never am as with auto main beam a camera in the windscreen detects any light source in the distance and dips automatically (this can be turned off to manual main beam) I had the beams tested on an mot beam tester and they are correct but I get so tired of being flashed at I've dropped the height.
I think we are almost programmed that if we see bright lights that we assume it’s main beam. There are some that are incredibly bright and they are generally (in our area) older cars that have had upgraded bulbs fitted rather than genuine fitment.
From a selfish point of view the 75 or classic mini are rarely used at night as the headlights are incredibly poor by today’s standards
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Old 23rd January 2022, 12:32   #3
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Thanks very much for that excellent and enlightening (sorry) explanation Mark. Advances in technology are all very well but like the so-called "smart" motorways, it seems to me that auto-dipping LED headlamps have introduced a threat to road safety where none existed before.

Simon
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Old 23rd January 2022, 13:13   #4
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I was beginning to wonder if I had missed something in the Highway Code- “if the Sun isn’t shining, turn on your headlights “.
As the landscape here is a bit horizontal to say the least, if I can see trees or buildings two miles away, why do cars have headlights on?
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Old 23rd January 2022, 13:25   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SD1too View Post
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
I suspect a more common reason at least around my area (and looking at the cars as they pass), for this dazzling effect as I get it with the warmer coloured headlights just as often as the white, is the hazing on polycarbonate lights. Combine that with a loose reflector from the projector style headlights that have become much more common than they used to be, and you have a recipe for a blinding laser torch.

Add all of that with the trend of soft roaders, and their raised position it is right in our eye line.

The default for auto leveling sensor is down, so should not dazzle at all.

The other 'blinder' I get are the cars more popular with younger drivers, that I reckon have xenon burners fitted to non xenon housings. However since the law has changed, I have noticed these are less and less. Our MOT here is very strict on lighting, my own car failed last time for a failed sensor. They have a very short and low beam when they fail.
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Old 23rd January 2022, 15:36   #6
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My old dad always used to say that if a car came towards you with the headlights too high, that you should concentrate on the nearside kerb, or verge. It's worked for me and my family for all the years we have been driving (thanks Dad). Your eyes are naturally drawn to the source of the light but you can train yourself to look elsewhere. I feel sure that a brightness test would show many of these modern lamps to be over the limit (or maybe it's my old eyes!).
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Old 23rd January 2022, 15:58   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clf View Post
Add all of that with the trend of soft roaders, and their raised position it is right in our eye line.

Thanks Alan, I think that's definitely a contributory factor.
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My old dad always used to say that if a car came towards you with the headlights too high, that you should concentrate on the nearside kerb, or verge ... Your eyes are naturally drawn to the source of the light but you can train yourself to look elsewhere.
This is very true Mike and exactly what I am having to do. On unlit country roads though we rely upon the cats eyes for guidance as the nearside verge is often hidden in darkness.

Thanks both for your thoughts.

Simon
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Old 23rd January 2022, 22:16   #8
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There would be no dazzle at all if the car manufacturers used polarised glass in the head lights and windscreens.


Horizontal and perpendicular polarisation.
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Old 24th January 2022, 05:51   #9
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During my early years of motor trade experience working at Renault, the new car PDI would have many tasks to complete, headlamp aims were one of them. The modern way seems to rely on the factory settings being regarded as correct and so often we see beams all over the place, not least the horizontal setting, these factors are found during a car's 1st mot. We are figting a losing battle with this though as the ligts are set with no driver on board, and tyres that have varied tread depths, meaning the car will eventually get new tyres. This will alter the alignment dependant on which tyres get replaced and variable loads applied to the vehicle by the driver. The tests that I do are often the 1st one, and cars with the beam requirements above 850mm are set to that of cars lower than 850mm, meaning a dazzle is most likely to happen to oncomming drivers and ones where the beams are aimed at the rooflining of the car in front of it.
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Old 24th January 2022, 09:11   #10
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This will alter the alignment dependant on ... variable loads applied to the vehicle by the driver.
Thanks John; I agree that this is a factor too but probably wouldn't account for the numerous times I was dazzled during my recent one hour journey.

Both my cars have manually adjustable headlight aim depending upon load but how many of us think of that when we place something heavy in the boot or give someone a lift in the back seats? I know I frequently forget.

Simon
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