>

There is a problem in Europe too. It's very annoying, blinding and dangerous.
It's so bad especially driving through the country and you see these big ass lights headed your way and it's the ONLY thing you see >

Think it's bad in the country. Imagine being stuck in front of one and having to tilt all your mirrors for your 40 min. commute ... sometimes the same one several times a month. >

LPT: You can flip the tab on the bottom of your rear view mirror to deflect the light away from your eyes while maintaining the same view out your rear windshield.
ULPT: You can also angle it in such a way that the person behind you gets an eye full of their own headlights. >

The little tab on the bottom is a thing of the past in newer vehicles but when I did have the option I always tried to blind them with it haha >

Huh. Didn't know that. I had a 2019 Civic that still had the tab. I too like flipping the tab and having the roving searchlight behind me suddenly turn their brights off or back off considerably lol >

LEDs are more efficient. All headlights should be LEDs. But they should limited in their brightness. I fully agree.
The problem is that there are already laws on the books limiting headlight brightness, but they aren't enforced, and a lot of folks don't follow them. >

It's not really the brightness that's blinding, is the angle. They should be angled down towards the road. A lot of cars have adjustable lights she people and them as high as possible for maximum exposure >

To continue on this point, since op mentioned lifted trucks... alot of people lift their tru ks but dont realize that the have to readjust their lights, which is why they have what seems like an obscenely bright headlight 
Still tho i agree the brightness limit needs to be enforced thru the govmt regs at the source ( ie. The manufacturer) >

Regulating the manufacturer doesn’t do anything when people use aftermarket parts >

Aftermarket parts are still regulated
Cops should also be ticketing tho >

Yeah, shouldn't be too complicated to let cops regulate. If it's enforced enough, the parts will become harder to find.
In my province there are certain regulations over tinted windows (basically there is a certain transparency threshold, and the windshield can only be tinted in its upper part), and it works fine.
It doesn't have to be 100% of cars perfectly following regulations at all times; if you don't meet them, you'll get caught eventually. And if you stay off the roads, you can do whatever you want (re: comments about farmers putting special lights or whatever). You start requiring that new cars follow these regulations while announcing it'll become regulation for all cars by some date in a distant future, so you give plenty of time for everyone to adapt. >

As someone who frequents country roads, in roadkill country, i feel safer driving with my dim as fuck headlights than being blinded by the wankers with led driving lights either coming at me or hanging right in my side mirrors on the freeway.
I legitimately believe my high beams are dimmer than some peoples ordinary driving lights. That's just wrong.
I have no issue with LED spotties, but when your driving lights are enough to make me grab my sunglasses, you are absolutely an asshole. >

When I first started driving I lived in the country, and my parents taught me to turn off the high beams at night if someone was coming the other way. I feel like people do that less and less now and it's annoying. >

anyone that doesn't is a bad person >

I had to quit my CDL OTR job because the high intensity discharge headlights were so bright that it started causing ocular migraines that would black out my field of vision after a year of night driving. It took years to recover and I’m finally able to drive without nighttime glasses. The lights themselves are very dangerous and I think more car manufacturers should look into this. 
My 2022 Forester has headlights that seem to “cut off” right about hood level. So if I’m driving behind a sedan, I’m not blinding them in their rear view mirror. It also has auto dimming bright lights and will turn off the high beams when it senses another car coming towards me. All that said, some times I think the auto level of my own headlights are too bright for other drivers. It’s just ridiculous how bright these headlights are, especially when people turn on after market light bars while on the pavement…how far are you trying to see? Into the future?! >

I had to quit my 6 figure night gas job because of ocular migraines and fatigue due to these damn lights.
It’s terrible >

LEDs aren't the problem.  Overly bright, poorly aimed headlights are the problem. >

It is every single suv and truck I encounter on the road at night. >

Ok, but LED is a technology.  The complaint is too birght poorly aimed headlights, not LED.   
All I am saying is, let's focus on the actual issue rather than banning LEDs. >

Well naturally if I’m in a car, an suv or a truck’s lights are gonna be higher because they’re higher off the ground. Doesn’t matter where you position them at on the vehicle. >

It's a beam of light which you can aim. The parabolic mirror inside the headlight changes random light into a directional beam. >

Also, most headlights now are projection beam lights, and plenty of brands have an actual dial to angle your headlights according to the conditions and area you're driving in.
They should be angled up on the highway to see further, and angled down in cities or residential areas where you have street lighting. >

I so agree with this. They stress me out so much, and I live in Los Angeles so driving on the freeway is a death wish at night. >

Pretty sure this is only a real issue when they aren't calibrated properly - especially common in aftermarket DIYs.
Well, except when people are too dumb/lazy/selfish to turn off high beams in a timely fashion. >

I don't even use my highbeams bc I know my lights are too bright. My car is 6 yrs old at this point & I still get flashed when they are on dim >

Downvoted because this is a VERY popular opinion >

Try being in the USA, the land of oversized SUVs and pickup trucks, and driving a subcompact hatchback. I’m constantly getting blasted with headlight glare. >

Man, it's not even just headlights anymore. Even tail lights are getting ridiculously bright. >

The other parent at my kids bus stop always turns her hazards on when she parks. Even when I’m behind her. Shit about gives my epileptic self a seizure. >

I'll up vote this twice a day if it means it'll gain attention >

100%
Everytime this comes up, I feel relieved that maybe I'm not crazy.
I get that LEDs are a lot more efficient, and that angle/color/self-adjusting beams are all ways to reduce glare from these headlights, but at some point, it's just too much damn light. I don't care if it's the angle or the temperature or the whatever. I come home from my evening commute dazzled and with a headache basically every day in the winter.
It didn't used to be that way and I hate it, and I don't get why I'm the asshole for wanting it to not be that way. >

Absolutely on every point. I do gig work as a courier full time but can't work evenings during the winter on most gigs as you can get sent on country roads you don't know with no lighting. I'm light sensitive and the number of times I've almost crashed from being completely disoriented is more than I feel comfortable admitting. I used to think it was just arseholes who liked showing off, but I think it's also poor drivers or people with poor vision who just think "well at least I can see 1 mile up the road". >

Most are adjustable. People are just morons and don’t adjust them. >

Or they just don't know that's a thing they have to/should/can do. Most people aren't exactly car savvy beyond "is my oil/coolant/brake fluid about to run out and burn up my engine" and "hmm, tire looks a bit flat. Now to figure out what pressure im supposed to fill this up to". Most people would assume the lights are done the way they're supposed to be >

That’s no excuse. It’s in every cars manual about the features of the car, especially safety features. >

...and how many people do you think would read that in depth on the manual? If people read the manual, they're more concerned with engine function or the buttons inside the car and airbags. I didn't even know headlights were adjustable until 2 years ago and I can't imagine how many people would have thought it pointless to read a section about the headlights- also can't imagine this helps people with used cars where the manual is likely long gone and Google can be a pain in the ass (i remmeber how much of a nightmare it was to look up something for my car), and again, most people would not think that looking up how the headlights work as something important or needed because that should be something that's aligned properly when you buy the car (especially if it's new) >

Reading your owner's manual is the responsible and smart thing to do. >

Fully agree. They are great for the person using them. Awful for everyone else. >

The person using them still has to deal with other people's though. As someone who has them (on a sedan) and also experiences other people's, I think stock LED headlights are mostly fine. It's usually a problem when there's aftermarket stuff involved, like lifted trucks or poorly angled aftermarket LEDs. >

Had a pickup behind me yesterday, at 4:30 pm with very slight overcast, with his LEDs on. Brights too. There was zero reason for it whatsoever. It was bright out and we were on a well lit road.
Jackass >

If a LED is installed properly and the headlight adjusted for the lift it is no more blinding to other vehicles than a conventional headlight. Unfortunately 90% of the LED lights installed aftermarket are not installed correctly. >

The problem is not the lights.  The problem is that they’re aimed incorrectly and glare in your eyes or the lights do not have autolevel sensors/motors. >

This seriously needs to be a pinned topic. I think it gets posted every 10 minutes. >

Thank you! I manage chronic migraines and these can trigger a bad attack. I have to wear polarized sunglasses at night because of these fckers. >

Banning a more efficient light technology is a misunderstanding of the problem. It’s people running too much luminosity as low beams, bad alignment, and lack of enforcement. If you wanted to you could literally get back at them with some clever retroreflective strips. >

If you have a lifted truck, that is not used for work or offroad, you are a terrible preson
LED light worsen this fact >

some people just like lifted trucks. why should they be called terrible people? >

I wouldn’t call them terrible, but I would call them stupid if they’re not using it for hauling shit regularly. Such a waste of gas and money when you could have bought a hybrid sedan that will last you forever with low maintenance costs. “I just like it” is not a rational justification for willingly fucking yourself over financially like that. it’s irresponsible, but if it really makes you that happy then who am I to judge? >

You are making a lot of assumptions about people that buy lifted trucks financial situation. >

no it doesn’t matter what your financial situation is, it’s an irresponsible financial decision unless you need to use it for hauling shit regularly. >

How exactly is it irresponsible for someone earning 200k to buy a 40k used truck? >

because you could use that 40k for an infinite list of more responsible things. plus, the vast majority of people who buy lifted trucks do not make 200k. People who make 200k are either stupid enough to buy a Porsche or they stick to their honda civic >

Once active matrix headlamps are more common you’ll change your mind. Cars will be able to have full high beams all the time, however the individual beams that would be searing your retinas will actually be completely off.  Car makers are also listening to the complaints now. That’s why you’re seeing headlamp assemblies on larger vehicles being moved lower on the vehicle specifically trucks and suvs. For now though I think they’re generally safer especially on dark roads. >

Aren’t those types of lights illegal in the freedom country for some back assward reason? >

I think they were just recently approved >

The problem isn't LEDs themselves. It's the fact they are often misaligned and instead of pointing at the road, they scorch your eyeballs instead. Although a problem I have is the light is too cool to be comfortable at night. Cooler temps are more efficient, but the lights (low-beams at least) should have a color temperature limit of 4000K or whereabouts. >

Is there any law against putting a mirror on the back of your car/work van? >

The problem is the people who put them in aren't smart enough to adjust the light down so you're not blinding everyone >

LED lights, all of them not just headlights, are often triggers for photosensitive epileptics. I am one of those oh so very lucky folks and can barely even ride in a car at night anymore because of these shits. The more popular these abominations become the less I’m able to leave the house after dark. r/fuckyourheadlights >

Can you go in stores and stuff like that?  My entire workplace retrofitted with (cheap) LEDs that have a flicker to them.  They had to replace the ones in my office with nicer ones because it was messing with my eyes. >

Some stores I’m okay in, some not. I definitely wouldn’t be able to be in your work. The LEDs that a lot of convenience stores have started using in their drink coolers are a massive no for me. >

It's amazing that they sell the LEDs with almost no smoothing on them.  You end up with a 120 Hz flicker.  The worst ones are half rectified and you get a very noticeable 60 Hz flicker. (I'm assuming you are in the US) That's what you are probably seeing in those drink machines. >

3-30 Hz is the range that’s the most dangerous but it’s not uncommon for up to 70 to cause seizures. For people like me it nearly doesn’t matter at all what the Hz are, they all mess with my brain. >

Man, I'm so sorry to hear that.  Most of the failure modes for LEDs will induce flashing and flickering that are right in that range.  They can make LEDs that don't have that issue; the components are less than $1 a fixture to fix it.  The ADA needs to be updated to address it. >

I know the EU is either working on implementing a standard or has recently done so. I can’t remember. Another side effect of epilepsy: CRS syndrome. 😂 
I don’t believe epilepsy is covered under the ADA. It’s ass backwards but whatever. 
Anyway, photosensitive folks are only 3% of people with epilepsy which is roughly 1% of the total population so I try not to complain much. Just like to put info out there so people can learn some stuffs. >

I know your pain but I think anything over 5-6k warmth should be illegal. there is no reason to have over 6k "cool white" blue light beaming my face in the dark. >

While there are many strict regulations on automobile lights, they are rarely enforced. Even as many places in the US have annual car inspections, as long as your lights are workimg they don't care.
It's not that they are LED, it's that they are manufactured and advertised as being "brighter" because that's what people want. Even more so than the actual lumen rating is the angle of the beams.
There is a decent amount of engineering that goes into modern headlight layout, and generic aftermarket bulbs do not confirm to that. Better yet, all new cars should be using LED bulbs everywhere. But sealed headlight assemblies like in my Subaru have an insane cost if they need replaced. I had a bunch of water condensation in a headlight unit that would fail my inspection and didn't have time to find a replacement on my own. That part cost $1000 from Subaru.
But back to enforcement, I am seeing more and more actual colored lights like blues and greens (not just the blue quality of cheap"cool" LEDs) which is also illegal. Cops just don't care, which probably means the departments have been instructed not to enforce it unless they suspect you for something else. >

Not unpopular.   While people are correct that in a lot of cases, it's people's misaligned headlights. A lot of people are also installing much brighter headlights,  and a lot of new cars are coming equipped with more intense lights.  Add on top of it people who turn on their bright lights and never shut them off. >

When I can see my car's shadow from your headlights behind me, it's a problem. >

So many people around here drive with their brights on during rush hour. Many of them have LED's. They always get so pressed when you flash them. I don't get it. >

It's more about the angles. Most LED headlights are aftermarket, and they are not calibrated to that specific model, so they shine the light WAY too high (I've had this problem myself). If they aimed lower towards the road not only would it impact other drivers less but would also be better for the owners themselves. >

I have an astigmatism. When someone else has LED lights, I often have to slow down and look to the side of the road. I also have blue eyes which are more sensitive to light than dark eyes, so LED lights burn holes in my retinas and I see floating dots for at least 30 minutes after the car passes >

Same here! It's dangerous I don't know why nothing is being done >

Can’t disagree with you. >

Thank god I read this, I thought I've begun a sensitivity to headlights and questioned my vision, I think everyone has their high beams on.  Even worse in he rain. >

It should be illegal to drive a vehicle where your lights are a certain height. Can't stand lifted trucks where their headlights are at mirror level. >

Regulate the lumen... >

They do. >

Are some people biologically more sensitive to LED light?
I know astigmatism can amplify glare generally, but LED specifically ...
I feel like a crazy person when I say that LEDs are exceptionally dazzling to me, regardless of how they are implemented. Sometimes the 'shadow' they leave in my vision lasts for several seconds. If I use them around the house, I get headaches.
Super distracting, and I swear everyone else is mostly "shrug" when it comes to this. >

Yes, some people certainly are. All LED lights can cause me to have a seizure due to me being a photosensitive epileptic. They’re actually a common seizure trigger in people like me. Buying lightbulbs for the house sucks btw lol >

It gets worse every night. We must stop them. >

LED headlights are the future. They're brighter for less energy spent, and produce a clearer light. However that's not what's actually useful for car headlights. Most of the time lights on a car are not about the driver being able to see out, but for other vehicles & road users to be able to see the moving car. The solution is actual regulation of car headlights, running, and rear lights to create a consistent set of options for the driver depending on conditions that also enhances the view of the vehicle without blinding or distracting other drivers. >

OEM LED headlights are just fine.
After market LED light bars that are clearly marked for OFF ROAD USE ONLY and the morons that use them while driving on road are the real problem.  
It's easy to tell the difference, no vehicle comes with a light bar as the OEM headlight. >

And why is it, that 9 times out of 10, the tailgater behind me has the brightest LED lights money can buy. 
You're literally 4 feet off my ass, lighting up my entire cabin like it's broad day. >

OP if you made this for my YSK than that's fucking awesome.
Anyway, I think there's a difference. My car has LED bulbs, but they're not the bright monster aftermarket garbage people install, it's effectively just a normal headlight. For context I drive a 2019 BMW 340i w/ the LED light package.
A lot of new cars come with LEDs as standard and they're really not different from traditional headlights except for lasting a hell of a lot longer. To counter, I think we should regulate how bright a mfs headlights are. People should get tickets for ridiculous aftermarket headlights that are too bright 100% >

Same, my headlights on my 2020 Chevy Trax aren't super bright, but they point down enough and they do the required job. My high beams though, those will burn out a retina even though they're stock parts right from the dealership. Luckily I don't have to use them often, mostly flashing them against other drivers blinding me. >

I'm not saying you necessarily, but I think there are a lot of people with LED headlights who think they aren't the problem when they are. >

Easy answer is simply put one of those sunshades across the back window when driving at night. You'll see just as well and the person behind you will suddenly get the feeling of staring into the face of God itself >

Put a mirror in the back window >

I’ve almost died so many times because of these things. Hard agree >

Properly aimed LED lights are actually much easier to deal with than older headlights.  They have much less light spray.  They will seem very bright from a distance but as you get closer they aren’t directed in your eyes.   Older headlights aren’t as bright from a distance but they are blinding when you pass.  
Poorly aimed LED lights (tend to be aftermarket and self installed) are absolute crap. >

Poorly implemented and maintained LED headlights should be illegal* fixed it for you.
LED headlights are fine, cars where the aim isn't right, the load or other problems are causing lift, this is when the lights blind you. >

yes , poorly aligned headlights is so common and idiots just blame "LED" headlights. NO! The morons at the factory are just not aligning them correctly. 
I've had 3 vehicles now where they were aligned incorrectly blinding oncoming cars. I aligned them myself and they are now LESS blinding than a regular halogen headlight thanks to the super clean cutoff of the beam.
TLDR: Get your headlights aligned properly >

When it's 60:40 or 70:30 poorly -aligned:well-aligned on the road, it's hard not to have a bit of prejudice against the whole class. >

understand but it's still wrong. They would be blinding people if they were halogens too >

said the same shit today everyone in texas gotta truck they need like a  max requirement on lumens yk >

They should not. Our country should update it rules on headlights. What the Europeans are doing with led and laser would astonish you. They can make it so you can have your high beams on all the time. And when an oncoming car approaches it will block out the specific point of light that would interfere with the other driver. Headlight technology is wild now and the US is behind in implementing it. >

I'm convinced that people that don't like LED headlights live in places that have street lamps (i.e. cities, suburbs). 
This little rural area I'm in, is only accessible by two-lane highway, and 20+ miles between towns, if not more. We don't have lights along the highways. Just tons of dark ass trees. I'm so thankful to have LED headlights, and even more thankful that they have an even brighter option for when there's cloud coverage and the moon is covered. 
My LED headlights have helped me to avoid deer and people that think it's super wise to wear all black and walk down said 2 lane highways in the middle of the night. >

Nah. I'm in a rural area for large portions of the year, and I hate them more than anybody. Someone coming the other way with blinding headlights is a dangerous menace who should lose their license. I can't afford to be blind for ninety seconds on the road just because someone's a douche who doesn't like turning on and off their high-beams.
High beams should be as bright as you need. If you want a Death Star Laser of a high-beam, the more power to you. I've modded my lights for that exact purpose (deer are plentiful, stupid, and dangerous in the area of Wisconsin I frequent). But again, you turn that shit the hell off the moment you're driving behind another car or there's someone approaching the other way. >

You know I have been wanting to buy this $600 flashlight that has up to 100,000 lumens but I don’t have any reason to buy it besides just wanting to. But you just gave me an idea of how I could use it >

Seen it in a video. Wow that's a lot of light! >

I just left I’m whatever came in my Toyota. It’d not uncommon for someone to flash their brights at me thinking my brights are on. I miss my old Mazda 3 where you could adjust the angle and at least point them down further. >

Not the purpose of that function at all. >

yea i hate them >

^halogen poor >

I don't know what's worse....a lifted truck with HI beam LEDs on tailing you on a highway at night. Or being on a single lane highway and cars with LED HI beams on coming towards you and blidning you. It's kind of amazing how people lack any sort of common sense. I use my brights, but only when I'm alone. And if I see a car coming I switch back to regulars beams because I'm not an insensitive idiot. >

Well.... out here in the sticks, a person cannot win. I had a small car that was pretty low to the ground. Truckers would flash their lights and blinding light bars at me thinking I had my brights on. If I was driving our F350 Dually, the same thing would happen. So, I have decided to join in. The small car was traded for another truck. Both trucks now have light bars. This is to see the deer, elk, foxes, coyotes and to be armed against the bright light bullies on the road. When I  lived in town, I wholeheartedly agreed with this unpopular opinion because there was already enough light around, but not now since I've moved to the country and it's DARK. >

Agree but I just think that they shouldn't make them as bright. >

It's not fault of the LED that drivers are to incompetent to switch between high and low beams. >

They're illegal where I live, I totally agree. You can have them but not use them in the streets >

Is this just a problem in the US? We've had them in Europe for ages and there's no problem with them.