A new community where people can just vent about or actually do coordinate action against the pest of ultra bright LEDs.
I thought it was just me getting older and my eyes getting worse, but headlights have really gotten ridiculous in the last 20 years or so. Related pet peeve is people walking at night in dark clothes, not even looking up when they cross the street.
I thought the same, until my teens started driving. Both of them complained they can’t see in the glare and ask me to drive at night sometimes, LoL
There’s a load of cars with headlights that are overly bright, but there is an even bigger epidemic of idiots driving around with high beams on as part of regular course.
In the city there is no need for those, ever. Let alone always being on.
Meanwhile I’m out here driving a 20 year old car with correspondingly dim headlights and need to have the highbeams on just to be able to see anything when there’s oncoming traffic. My normal headlights are fine when there’s nothing coming the other way, but that’s not really how that’s supposed to work lol. Kinda defeats the purpose of ever turning the brights off! I swear any newer car’s normal lights are brighter than my brights
need to have the highbeams on just to be able to see anything when there’s oncoming traffic.
Let me get this straight: you are turning on your brights when there is oncoming traffic?
I don’t see how running high beams held you see when there is oncoming cars with brighter lights. Maybe it has more to do with the fact that older cars are smaller and lower?
I am not disputing new cars have higher brightness on regular lights, that absolutely is true. Though running high beams throws light both forward and up toward the oncoming drivers eyes.
Unfortunately I don’t know the physics, maybe something to do with how lights scatters through the windshield? Idk, all I can tell you is my repeated experience: turning the brights on definitely helps with seeing through oncoming traffic. But you are right, my older car is both smaller and lower, so I’m sure even the modern cars with lights aimed downward are more likely to shine directly at me
100% this; I’ll see the same make a model go by, with LED lights, and it will be fine one time the next time I’ll be like 🔥 MY EYES 🔥.
it’s hard to tell the two apart these days because many cars have regular headlights that are as bright as normal high beams. there have been a few times i’ve been mad at someone behind me with their high beams on, and then they flash their actual high beams because they’re mad at me for not also speeding while blind
god, driving at night used to be so fun, now it’s ruined
I don’t disagree. There are plenty of led upgrade kits that are way too bright regularly and also probably misaligned causing them to be double bad. Brighter than normal and aimed directly into your eyes.
I’m with you though, driving at night used to be a lot different and more enjoyable than it is today with all these extremely bright lights pointed at your eyes.
because many cars have regular headlights that are as bright as normal high beams
You seem to have no grasp of how car headlights work, because almost every single car that has ever been produced has high beams that are as bright as their low beams
My problem is that I drive a low car (Ford fiesta) and most other cars are taller, this makes them way more blinding.
Our problem is not that we drive small cars (I drive a Focus). It’s that newer vehicles are enormous, usually for no reason.
Nearly every time I get on the highway, I’m tailgated by someone in some newer massive SUV where the headlights are at the same height as my rear view mirror. I don’t understand why those vehicles are allowed to operate on the same roads as me. They aren’t safe. By default, stock, out of the factory, they blind the other drivers in reasonable cars. I can’t imagine what getting into a wreck with one would do to my car (and me in it).
Oh, there is a reason, and it’s the fucking NHTSA. Those absolute fuckrockets mandate proportionally stricter emissions standards on smaller cars than larger cars. They base it on the area of the rectangle formed by where the tires touch the pavement.
If your car can’t quite pass emission standards, just make it a little wider, a little longer, and you get a looser standard.
Repeat the process for a few model years, and now 2025 subcompacts are larger than 1995 sedans.
Fuck the NHTSA with a rusty bayonet.
Same, and they might even have properly adjusted headlights, but as soon as they tilt up (e.g. due to a speed bump), the flashing lights make it look like they are sending me a light signal. Usually takes a few seconds until I realise they just hit a speed bump.
Dude YES. 20 years ago driving in the country you see some high beams in the distance and people would go back to low beams as they get around a corner or crest a hill when they see other cars.
My commute is through a lot of schools and parks and pedestrian crossings and it’s somewhat poorly lit, so everyone has high beams on regardless of traffic but as a result I can’t see shit. If there’s oncoming cars stopped and a pedestrian tries to squeak through I literally wouldn’t be able to tell.
It’s gotten so bad, either people have their brights on all the time or they’re not adjusted properly. In either case headlights DONT HAVE TO BE SO BRIGHT.
High beams and fog lights on a beautiful sunlit day.
I’ve noticed quite the influx of highbeams in recent years. I simply can’t understand why though. Stupids wanting to see better, by making other’s vision worse? Western Canada here, and I thought it was just me taking notice. Fuckn why??
I mean I guess I’m stupid but I straight up can’t see if there’s oncoming traffic and my brights aren’t on. Doesn’t go for every oncoming car (if its lights are reasonable then I have no issues) but the vast majority of cars have newer, hilariously bright headlights that shine in a way where my normal lights simply don’t seem to cut it.
I still get mad about this aftermarket center high beam. way more blinding in person than the photo, also makes it impossible to see the plates
That is definitely “please ticket / pull me over officer”
It’s a probably a cop driving it.
I wouldn’t be surprised. After seeing that video interviewing a guy that goes around his town and fixes plate obfuscations, many being on cop cars, I noticed that in my city too. Stuff like muck on just the plates or the colour of the lettering buffed off.
Aircraft approach lights level.
A quick question for Americans: here in the UK, cars have to pass an annual inspection once they reach three years old. It’s called an MOT test and it’s primarily concerned with making sure the car is safe - they check for rust, seatbelt tension, brake wear, and, yes, they make sure all the lights are not just working but also aligned properly. Do you not have an equivalent?
It’s by state. I’ve always lived in states with relatively strict inspections, at least compared to other states, but I’ve never heard of them checking lights or window tint. They’re supposed to
I suppose it’s good that they focus on more urgent things like brakes, emissions, that there be lights, tire treads, and windshield chips/cracks, but I wish they’d do everything
Actually it’s mildly annoying that I have to pay the same for inspections that include the emissions check, with my EV
We used to have inspection in Oklahoma but I think it violated our “freedom” so they got rid of it.
I think some states have laws similar to this but in a lot of the country you can basically drive your car until it falls apart unless a cop specifically stops and tickets you for something egregious.
Some states have something similar, but it’s more for emissions I think. Michigan doesn’t seem to care AT ALL.
I’ll add onto the answers already. I lived in both an inspection state (Virginia), and a non inspection state (Washington state). I was in Va for about 2 years. I never saw more janky ass cars on the road and broken down ones. I saw more in those 2 years than the 20+ years I’ve lived here in Wa.
When it came time for mine, all my neighbors sent me to a mechanic down the road. It was a long ass line, but moved pretty fast. No appointment needed. “WTF is this?” I thought. I got to my turn. The guy was in a short stool, like a dr’s one. He didn’t even leave it. I was in and out in 5 minutes. I’m anal retentive on our vehicle maintenance. So I’m not a danger, but man, I know how others are.
One of our neighbor’s friends brought his car by one time. When it was off, oil was flooded into the spark plug holes. I swore it would never start. He cranked it. It turned over right away and all the oil sucked back down into the engine. I’ve never seen anything like it, nor since. I’m still flummoxed by it.
I saw one car where the person cut the roof away from just behind the driver’s seats. Regular old car. They half ass put a piece of plywood and, what I assume, is plexiglass to act as a wall. The “bed” of the vehicle was now the passenger seat area. It also had some janky work going on back there.
Our inspection system is really shitty, even in the states with them. There are so many, “I know a guy”, things going on that they might as well not have them. Then there are exemptions as well. Year ranges exempt. They do no real good if they’re there. Completely defeats the purpose.
Not in my state in the US. Arkansas did away with vehicle inspections. As a result you not only have to contend with bright headlights but severely misaligned headlight housings. Most are done on purpose and the funny part of it, if there is a funny part. When they bright light you its really better than when they are on dim.
The most annoying thing about bright LED headlights is that LEDs don’t have to be bright. Yet because so many are, people view LED headlights as the problem. You can get varying brightness LED bulbs for your home, why not your car?
And put it in neutral.
Stock car flamin’ with a loser and the cruise control
Baby’s in Reno with the vitamin D
We got a couple of couches, sleep on the love-seat
Hah, nice. The more the merrier!
Thank you! I have a tiny cataract, but even my good eye hates jeeps, and big rigs.
I’m just glad the Xenon fad is practically over
That’s the kind of freedom I love not to have in Europe (it’s regulated).
For the ones wanting proof (fair):
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/48(2)/oj/eng
One such regulation. It’s not perfect.
For me mainly bicycle lights are sometimes brighter than cars but mostly far too high and some on the back blinking too (illegal here, but still seeing it often).
Regulations not being enforced is another issue…
I’m from Europe and headlights suck here too! It’s spectrum of LEDs and tall cars and probably bad regulations too.
Some cars now even have break lights that shine brighter than the light of a thousand suns. I don’t get it, there ought to be some regulation for this. This is Germany speaking.
Yes, some specific cars and lights are surprisingly bad, but in general it’s not comparable to the US. Maybe also depends on the specific country, too, of course.
What?
Seems heavily country v dependent then.
But there def is regulation (even candles at different distances) & technically a car isn’t road worthy if its blinding oncoming traffic.
I haven’t seen it much enforced by the cops, just by the mandatory scheduled road-worthiness checkups.
Also, how tf is automatic headlight leveling not standard equipment? It has been on the market for like 20 years now (& I think we need it bcs of people, not bcs that lil 1-5 scroll switch of the olden days wasn’t sufficient … do people not see their own lights shining in peoples faces?).
However I do wish cops would regularly stop & fine people (foreigners :)) with misaligned headlights (the needed equipment is ez & smol, tho level ground is needed) … or those fuckers cruising with fog lights “bcs it looks sporty” or whatever.
It technically is in the US as well, but this is a corrupt, late stage Capitalist shithole, so, no one with power cares.
Regulated? In the Netherlands I can’t tell.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/48(2)/oj/eng
Not saying it’s perfect.
My car’s headlights blind me sometimes when they reflect off road signs. I tried to find warmer replacements, but it seems like that’s just not a thing
Yeah, I guess that’s one part of the problem. It’s not like most people care that much. But if that’s the only replacement lights you can get… :/
Yes ! I hate these as well!
How about a high-vis vest? Doesn’t even take batteries
Oh, it’s bullshit. It’s a bunch of cockfucking bullshit.
You’re sitting, waiting for the bus, trying to look down the street to see if you notice the bus coming. What do you see instead? White. Just an all encompassing blinding white light which just consumes all reality and everything you’re experiencing right now.
NOW how am I supposed to know if I should be getting my bus pass out? Also, 50% chance my retinas were just singed to a crisp.
I agree, fuck those headlights, but I don’t understand the point of a community for it.
Somewhere for me to go and make myself annoyed?Welcome to the Internet
Have a look around
Anything that brain of yours can think of can be found
It is like road rage videos. I hate road rage. I hope they lose their license. But I can’t watch them because they pointlessly get me worked up.
I’mma get some downvotes for this. But is this community also for the headlights of bicycles who like to shine into the face of other road users instead of illuminating the road?
No downvotes from me. I cycle every day, it’s my only mode of transportation, and the number of poorly adjusted lights on other people’s bikes is staggering.
Totally, I’m commuting by bike almost every work day of the year and it’s infuriating how many cyclists have their headlights misaligned.
Oh god yes, especially now that all of them use led lights. Mine still uses an old-fashioned light, which is great when you’re alone on the road because your night vision can deal with the rest. But I turn completely blind when an oncoming bike shines one of those led-lights directly in my face.
I’ve already ran off the path twice so far because I couldn’t see where I was cycling (it was at a bicycle path through the park without street lights)Yesterday, some idiot on a bike came right at me with a strobing light pointing at my eyes. Fuck you…
What I currently do is to take out my own headlight from its holder and deliberately point into their eyes. At least the message should be clear.
Ugh yeah that’s been an increasing problem too. I had some guy last year just as dusk was starting to set with a bike headlight blinding me on the bike trail.
❤️ StVZO-compliant illumination ❤️
