Headlamp glare

[Stickyfinger]

TRL study
https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/glar ... n-uk-roads

Download paper
https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/glar ... ure-review

[mickthemaverick]

That's two bits of good news in one day!! Having read it through, it ocurred to me that one thing that wasn't mentioned was educating drivers to dip their lights when an approaching vehicle comes into view or when you are following another vehicle. That practice seems to be sadly lacking to a much greater extent than it used to be and makes me wonder if some night driving should be part of the test?

Also the growing dependance by less experienced drivers on the driver aids as highlighted in this paragraph:

Q26: Do modern ‘matrix’ headlamps make things better or worse?
A: In theory, they should help by automatically dipping beams. But in practice, they
don’t always anticipate bends, hills or speed bumps the way a human can. That means
on rural roads or country lanes, drivers can still get dazzled.

is another example of the dangers of computer control.

[bobins]

One thing I've noticed with the headlights on my Sportage is that if you put anything heavier than a sausage roll in the boot then the headlights need to be adjusted down on the headlight level switch by the dashboard. I now keep it permanently set to 1-2 to reduce glare. My mate has a Nissan Kashcow and was forever being flashed by oncoming drivers because of the headlamp glare so I told him to keep them manually adjusted down. When he raised the issue with the main dealers, their response was along the lines of : 'Yeh. What do you want us to do about it ?'

[CitroJim]

For me, glare from modern headlights is a very significant problem. Due in part to the level of blue - a part of the spectrum my eyes cannot focus on.

My resolution to this was to purchase a pair of prescription driving glasses fitted with Hoya 'Enroute' lenses. These have blue cut filters (the lenses have a distinct yellow tint) and work very well against quite unnecessarily intense headlights. They were not cheap but against that, worth every penny.

In my view, in well-designed lamp assemblies, standard H4 halogen headlights are more than adequate.

[myglaren]

The BBC has something to say about it

When Jane Kingsbury, 80, last had her eyes tested, she says her optician told her that her eyesight was OK. But Jane, from Cambridge, says she is giving up driving at night because the feeling of being "dazzled" by other vehicles has left her feeling unsafe. "I am worried about the glare from oncoming lights," she says.

And when Jane mentioned this at a discussion group she attends, others felt the same. "Over 90% of us did not want to drive in the dark," says Jane. "So we have changed the time of our meetings from 7.30pm to 1.30pm [for much of the year] so that we can drive home before dark. (more)"

"And experts say the problem is getting worse. Denise Voon, clinical advisor at the College of Optometrists - which also campaigns on the issue - says: "I am a practising optometrist and I've noticed that maybe 15 years ago, you rarely had people coming in complaining about headlight glare. But now it's becoming more and more prevalent."

Which coincides with personal concerns regarding the recent DVLA introduction of sight tests for over seventies*. Which prompted me to have a long overdue sight test and purchase three new pair of gleggs, making 11 pair altogether.

I was delighted to find that on all points my vision was well above the criteria set by DVLA, even without distance glasses, although I do use them for driving just in case.

*Looks like a bit of brown envelope under the table here as only Specsavers are approved for these tests, despite most other optometrists being more than capable. I don't need to bother for another couple of years and hopefully this will change. I have used SpecSavers in the past and have no axe to grind with them other than access is restricted to their premises due to synthetic fragrances (perfumes and 'air fresheners).

Latest eye exam was at my local Asda, ten minutes walk away, went very well.

[myglaren]

Related to this, I have to say that I always thought that the lights on my GS were by far the best although this may not be true today (it was back in the early eighties)
The lights on the current Mazda 6 are unimpressive. The previous one was better.

[CitroJim]

Modern car headlights seem to be an arms race with blindness being the ultimate goal...

I feel for and fully understand those who say they are no longer happy driving at night. I'm not and do all I can not to. The only thing that makes it almost tolerable is my special Hoya prescription glasses...

It's history repeating itself though to an extent. I remember when quartz-halogen first appeared and started to displace the old pre-focus bulb and sealed beam headlights the same complaints were levelled...

That said, the current crop of headlights - and stop/tail lights - has got very silly now..

[PaulC5]

Modern car headlights seem to be an arms race with blindness being the ultimate goal...

That said, the current crop of headlights - and stop/tail lights - has got very silly now..

Designers trying to be different/stupid ? One make of car has its day running lights the full width of the front and back of the car. Many do not know how to use a hand brake these days going by brake lights being on whilst stopped and just blinding the driver behind.

[mickthemaverick]

Many do not know how to use a hand brake these days going by brake lights being on whilst stopped and just blinding the driver behind.

One of the most annoying features of modern day driving in either of my 'normal' sized cars is sitting behind a 'modern' hulk with their foot on the footbrake in traffic queues. I tend to close my eyes to protect them until the through eyelid redness stops!!

[bobins]

Ahhh.... That might not be the result of them putting their foot on the brake pedal - if they have an 'Auto Hold' function that acts a bit like an automatic handbrake, then that applies the stop lights when in use. I'm not entirely sure why the stop lights are needed in that situation though.

[mickthemaverick]

Indeed that is a reality that seems to be of the 'because we can' school. Brake lights are surely for the simple purpose of advising that the car is slowing down, not to advise that it is stationary!! How about adding a purple beacon on the roof that flashes unidirectionally 1 second before forward motion commences? I am sure they could!!!

[myglaren]

It is all very annoying.

[MattBLancs]

I hate the laziness of the "sat with foot on the brake" majority. Gets on my nerves as it the typical lazy inconsiderate driving seen widely nowadays. I agree the advent of piercing bright red LED rear brake lights has made it less comfortable to be sat behind such morons.

For headlamp glare, I've a (cheaper) version of what Jim described - yellow tinted lenses, they do seem to take the edge off the glare.

Not these, but this type of thing, cheap enough to try:
https://ebay.us/m/CdEnki
£1.89, delivered!

[mickthemaverick]

I'm sure the availability of this sort of thing doesn't help!!

https://www.i-bidder.com/en-gb/auction- ... 0a00b7de87