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Expert shares 4 steps to tackle dangerous bright headlights
Bright headlights have become a common complaint on UK roads, with motorists being regularly blinded at night.
Luckily, there are a number of steps and tricks drivers can take to make our roads much safer.
Expert urges motorists to take these steps to tackle ‘dangerously bright” headlights
Sharing how drivers can lessen the impact of their “dangerously bright” headlights, the motoring experts over at Dick Lovett said that simply adjusting them can make all the difference.
Explaining why this is so important, the experts said: “It’s important to adjust your headlights correctly, so the angle of the headlight beam is in the right place, as misaligned headlights can reduce your ability to see clearly at night and may dazzle oncoming drivers.”
The step-by-step guide on how to adjust your headlights
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to adjust your car headlights:
- Park on flat, level ground – First, position your car on a flat surface, around 5-7 metres away from a wall or garage door.
- Mark the beam pattern – Then, turn on your headlights and use masking tape to mark the centre of each beam on the wall.
- Adjust the screws – Next, locate both the vertical and horizontal adjustment screws, and alter the beam so it aligns just below the marked level, as this will help to avoid dazzling other drivers.
- Test the lights – Finally, take the car for a short drive to ensure your visibility is improved, without any excessive glare.
Expert urges drivers to try this one driving trick to combat bright headlights
Those affected by bright headlights have been told to try an “often forgotten” feature present in all cars.
The experts said switching your rear-view mirrors into night mode, a feature that has been in cars since as early as the 1980s, is a great way to make driving at night more pleasant.
This feature makes your mirror darker and minimises the intensity of any reflections during the night to avoid glare from the vehicles behind you.
Why are the headlights on cars so bright now?
One of the biggest complaints on roads nowadays is the brightness of headlights on cars.
There have been a number of explanations for this, with Ollie Green, car expert from MOT service Collect Service Go, sharing that the colour of these is one of the reasons why they seem so bright.
They said: “Headlights appear brighter today because LED units produce far more light than older halogen bulbs, reaching around 200 lumens per watt compared with the traditional designs that have about 24 lumens per watt.
“The shift towards bluer, whiter LED lights at around 5000K to 6500K also makes them look harsher to the eye than the warmer 3200K tone of halogens, which can add to the sense of glare at night.”
Mark Reece, motoring expert at RevMonkey UK, states that the issue is down to the mix of modern technology and old-fashioned setup issues.
He told Newsquest: “Drivers are right that newer LED headlights have a harsher look to them.”
The expert added: “They’re designed to be whiter and more focused than older halogens, so they cut through the dark better. The downside is that they can feel a lot more intense when you’re facing them head-on, especially on narrow or unlit roads.”
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However, another part of the problem is badly aimed lights, according to Mark.
He said: “We’re seeing loads of cars with headlights that are simply pointing too high. So you’ve got these strong LED units, or even standard bulbs, aiming straight at oncoming traffic. That’s when drivers really get dazzled.
“It’s a double whammy: brighter technology and poor positioning. People blame LEDs alone, but alignment plays just as big a part. Spending a few minutes checking your beam aim can take the glare out of night driving for everyone.”
