other people's headlights

[markthe45king]

this is a grumpy old man moment - but does anyone know if there is any way of dealing with other cars dazzling headlights? it seems to me that everyone has the worlds brightest halogens and either cos of my glass or my glasses, i seem to get a lot of glare, which properly disconcerts me.

bloody modern lights. lol. but seriously, if anyonme knows how to cut glare i'd be interested to know!

[Matt]

I get this too

Its generally cars with HIDs that are the problem

[chrisryder]

people with headlights that are out annoys me more. at least if they're bright, you know they're there! i overtook a car on my side of the road once, as i thought it was just a motorbike coming the other way and he was right over to his side of the road. that was ok until i noticed it was a car with a headlight out!

as for brightness, i don't know if it's the technology (there must be BS's and EN's for their wattage) of if they're just not well adjusted. if it's a brand new car it won't get to an mot station for 3 years, so the adjustment never gets checked!

i can be a grumpy old man too, even if i'm only 21

[les]

A lot of this is down to people driving on high beam, road manners are a thing of the past. Road humps can also cause dazzling even from dipped lights. Can't suggest a legal solution. While I'm here, my pet hate is people getting into the left hand lane approaching a roundabout, then take the right hand exit, I've even seen police do it!

[chrisryder]

I can only imagine flashing your headlights might give an indication, be it for a bulb gone, or main beam on. it often works.

i believe it is technically illeagal (or frowned upon) for flashing lights though, as it can be misleading as to why you are flashing.

it's not easy to flash in a minor with the dipper on the floor, in the missus' fiat punto where you can flash on the stalk, i flash everyone!

talking of flashing, did anybody else hear in the news a month or two ago about a guy who got done for perverting the course of justice by flashing his headlights at fellow motorists to warn of a mobile speed camera? trouble is, that case will be used as presidence in the future, and more and more people will get done for it... makes sense legally, but it aint half annoying!

[Roni]

I've noticed a lot of the "problem" cars with dazzling headlights seem to have had HID conversions fitted to older style headlights. It is actually illegal here, NZ, to fit HIDs into headlights that were not designed for them due to this problem. Despite that, there are lots of "conversion Kits" sold online with no mention of the illegality. There seems to be very little if not any enforcement of this law either on the road or at WOF (MOT) time.
On the flashing to warn of speed cameras, etc - I once asked a Police officer what his view on that was. He said as far as he was concerned he was happy because it got people to slow down.

[aupickup]

have you got a mini now les

[SGTBILKO]

Short of shooting out the offending headlights with a Colt 45 I'm not sure what can be done about it.[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

The 'dazzle' effect is a first sign of aging eyes......very probably cataracts developing. If you find it troublesome you really shouldn't drive at night........... Cleaning the screen inside and out can help - indeed a 'new' screen is SO much nicer at night, without all the little pits/scrapes/sparkles that an old screen carries.
And yes - HID conversions here are illegal too - unless an auto leveling system is fitted - and it never is. But it's not an MOTable thing - as long as the lights dip and don't dazzle in the static MOT test - that's fine!

[rsawatson]

I have this problem too - it's especially bad down country roads where it's really dark, especially on the 4x4s - perhaps because they're higher up they always seem to be directly at eye level.

I don't know what they are, but the ones with the bluey tinge (xenon bulbs?) that seem to change colour slightly depending on where you are in relation to their direction of focus are the worst. Maybe it's just my eyes, but I think they shouldn't be allowed.

I've seen these yellow tinted glasses which can fit over your normal specs. I don't know how well these work - but I don't think they'd do much for your 'street cred' !

[Peetee]

I have a big issue with these things. On anything other than a level road they are nothing short of dangerous because of their ability to dampen out the visibility of other less well lit, although still legal, road users.
Flashing headlights should be banned as an indication of courtesy. Some lenses on modern vehicle are multi-faceted and dips in the road surface can give the impression of flashing the lights. Volvo's seem particularly prone to this.
If I want to say thanks I will switch back to sidelights for a second. It has the same effect and doesn't dazzle anyone.

[Matt Tomkins]

i've fitted halogens to mine on the advise of another moggie owner - apparently it doesn't stop the dazzle itself, but you regain your line of sight far quicker with the brighter halogens.

[rsawatson]

Yes I've heard several positive reviews regarding the halogen headlight conversion - apparently the improvement is really noticeable. I haven't got around to replacing my sealed beams yet, probably a good thing for me to do if (as I've been told) they demand less power as well - the early sunsets of the winter certainly take their toll on my battery!

[alex_holden]

Yes I've heard several positive reviews regarding the halogen headlight conversion - apparently the improvement is really noticeable. I haven't got around to replacing my sealed beams yet, probably a good thing for me to do if (as I've been told) they demand less power as well - the early sunsets of the winter certainly take their toll on my battery!

I think the power consumption is about the same, but they do reduce the dazzle you get from other halogen (or HID ) equipped cars.

[ASL642]

I've got the halogen conversions on my cars. They are very good.

[moggie-tom]

i believe it is technically illeagal (or frowned upon) for flashing lights though, as it can be misleading as to why you are flashing.

I was flicking through the Highway Code the other day, it states:

"110
Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users."

Although most people tend to flash their headlights when they are giving way to you.

[chrisryder]

Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there

on the continent they actually abide by that one. very disconcerting when it happens the first time!

i can't imagine the highway code would encourage intimidation

[xpress]

i am currently planning an upgrade, fitting lamps with candles inside for headlights.

it's going rather well.

[robbiesmith]

I can echo the good reports on here about halogen headlights, I replaced my 'glow-worms' just before winter set-in and it makes a big difference.

Yellow-tinted night-driving glasses also seem to work well and improve your vision markedly although I find I no longer need them. This may be an age thing, perhaps my eyes are not as sensitive as they once were.

The big problem I find is not so much the oncoming headlights on main-beam which has been a rare event in my experience, but the idiot who fails to dip when he's following behind. I have been tempted to install a million-candle power light, facing backwards, to counter this menace, but I'm too law-abiding to actually do it.....

[chrisryder]

you could have a reversing light that doesn't switch via the gearbox, but has a manual switch on the dash. then you can flash it at following idiots!