Most Drivers Say Headlight Brightness Is A Real Problem
Good headlights are a double-edged sword. If you've driven an older car for some time, then get into a new one with LED lighting; it's a night-and-day difference. Of course, that's because modern headlights are much better and brighter than those from a decade or so ago. So, while you can see better, everyone else is squinting into the collapsing star on the highway opposite them. A new AAA poll found that most drivers see this as a problem and say that the issue has gotten worse, making nighttime driving problematic.
“Several factors, including new headlight technologies and taller vehicle design, are contributing to growing driver frustration with headlight glare,” said Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast. “The reality is that vehicle lighting technology has evolved faster than regulations. And while adaptive driving beam headlights — which automatically dim the high-beam when another vehicle approaches — are now permitted in the U.S., they are not yet available in mainstream vehicles.”
The AAA poll turned up some other interesting factoids: Drivers who wear prescription glasses (70%) experience more glare than those who do not (56%), and those in trucks are less likely to report glare (41%) than drivers of other vehicle types (66%), possibly because of the higher ride height.
Adaptive lighting is one possible solution to the problem. While automatic high-beams can help, several automakers are also working on adaptive low-beam headlights, which should help further curb the issue. BMW is a notable stand-out here. Its adaptive lighting system can pivot the beam to where it's needed most, but more importantly, where it isn't wanted. However, these systems have two big drawbacks: cost and complexity.
BMW
BMW makes premium, luxury cars and SUVs. They're not the sort of thing most Americans are driving around in every day. The headlight assembly is also more costly to replace as a result of the added complexity, too, which in turn drives up maintenance and insurance costs alike. Still, it's a step in the right direction, and eventually, more widespread use of adaptive lighting will (hopefully) make the technology more accessible.