Night driving — not fun

[Mus Musculus]

Went down to High Wycombe and Wendover (Buckinghamshire) to visit some friends.

The trip over there was quite nice, although the weather was quite dull. But, driving back… Constant blinding by opposing cars in the country lanes, plus all the 4X4s and SUVs with lights just at the exact height to hit all the mirrors from behind. I hate Xenon lights.

Then, the stupid here ordered the wrong bulbs, so I only had the punny standard bulbs to rely on — the result: couldn't see anything. I am getting those Night Breakers installed ASAP (when they get delivered).

 

[t-tony]

The one thing worse than Xenons is LED. It's time vehicle standards took into account the person coming towards these lights not just if the driver can see better.

Tony.

 

[Mike Fishwick]

All headlamp bulbs should be approved to ECE37 - but most tend to scatter lots of light, apart from Osram and Philips.

Are you sure that the oncoming lights are the real cause? I used to have exactly the same problem, until I was diagnosed with bad cateracts, and had both of my eye lenses replaced - it was like a miracle, and I felt nothing!

Most spectacle shops only want to sell you stronger glasses, but most large branches of Boots employ real opticians, who will soon tell you if you have cateracts. Mine were caused by taking cardiac medication for years. I can now look into headlamps without any problems, and my eyes recover frm the glare quickly, and my eyesight is that of an 18-year old! I wish I had the other attributes of an 18-year old . . .

 

[Mus Musculus]

Are you sure that the oncoming lights are the real cause?

I am sure other things are at play, but some of the modern Xenon and LED (as mentioned by @t-tony ) lights are definitely much brighter. I would also argue that the windscreens of old cars—the Z3 and Spitfire I have, at least—are prone to lensing effects.

Granted, I am getting old, wear contact lenses, and my vision is simply not as sharp (astigmatism). However, I go regularly to my local optician for tests, and I am pretty sure I haven't got to the point of the onset of cataracts. Besides, I am not regularly affected by glaring when driving my much more modern Mercedes...

Anyway, I am thinking about either laser surgery or an intraocular lens replacement. I might ask if I can have new lenses implanted with night-driving capabilities…

 

[motco]

Think about the intraocular lenses in French headlight yellow! Could cause some alarm among you friends and family! Fancy a stake through the heart and a mouthful of garlic flowers?

 

[IanA]

Lights on modern cars are definitely brighter and great when you are behind them.
When properly adjusted they are OK from in front as well but as soon as they hit you "off-axis" due to road conditions like ramps or pot-holes, that's when it can get painful.
Being in a low car doesn't help.

www.lightmare.org