How To Avoid Getting Blinded By Bright HID or LED Headlights

Most drivers have experienced a situation where LED or Xenon headlights have temporarily blinded them, forcing them to focus on the outside fog line to stay in the proper lane. In worst-case scenarios, that blinding headlight can prevent a driver from seeing an object in the road or another vehicle stopping sharply just ahead.

The issue is that older-style halogen headlights may not be bright enough for drivers to see in front of them, especially on rural San Antonio roads with little lighting. Thus, the invention of LED and HID headlights. So, there’s a two-fold problem: Drivers using bright headlights can cut visibility for oncoming drivers, but without bright headlights, drivers may not be able to see hazards in the roadway.

Oh, the confusion! Here’s how you can drive safely and avoid getting blinded by bright headlights.

What Dangers are Associated with LED and Xenon Headlights?
Headlights that shine too brightly in an oncoming driver’s eyes cause glare, or light scatter in the eyes. This glare, sometimes called “disability glare,” leads to the affected driver being unable to detect contrast, and it can be better or worse depending on how far away the light source is located. When a driver’s eyes are impacted by disability glare, it leads to these issues:

Decreased visibility – the driver can’t see objects in the roadway at a reasonable distance
Increased reaction times – the driver takes longer to respond to objects in the road
Poor recovery time – the driver takes several seconds after passing the bright headlights to return to normal vision
What Headlight Factors Increase Disability Glare?
You may have noticed that the lights from some oncoming cars affects your eyes more than others. What makes some headlights more likely to impact drivers than others?

It’s not just that some drivers forget to turn off their bright lights when another vehicle approaches; in fact, their high-beams may be off, but other factors explain problems with glare. These may include:

Headlight mounting height – larger vehicles may have headlights that are higher above the ground than cars.
Varied headlight aim – headlights that are misaligned may be pointing up so that they shine directly into the eyes of other drivers.
Smaller headlight size – smaller lights may focus light in a way that increases glare.
Color appearance – some drivers report that blue lights increase glare.
Auxiliary lighting – fog lights, when coupled with regular headlights, may have a greater impact on vision.
What are Adaptive Driving Beam Headlights?
There is one possible fix, but the technology is not yet in use on U.S. roads. Adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlights are being used in Europe and Japan as an alternative to traditional headlights. The bulbs are part of a system with sensors that adapt beam patterns depending on whether another car or object is ahead or oncoming. It may be a few years before ADB lights are even tested for the U.S., however. The complexity of the system makes it hard to install on older vehicles, and more likely to malfunction. In the meantime, there are some steps you can take to reduce glare.

What Can Drivers Do to Improve Their Vision?
LED and HID headlights are fitted in about 20% of vehicles on the road. If bright headlights are particularly bothersome to you, or if you’re worried about the reduced reaction time that disability glare can induce, you do have a couple of options.

Keep your windshield clean and free of cracks. Dirt and imperfections like cracks in the windshield can refract light, making it harder to see. If you need a new windshield in San Antonio, ask your San Antonio auto body shop for help.
Wear yellow-tinted glasses. Even if you don’t need a prescription to see better, special yellow-tinted lenses can help cut down and even absorb some of the glare associated with night driving.
Do your part. Make sure your own headlights are properly aligned and you aren’t using bright or blue-colored bulbs.
Focus on another part of the road, away from the light source.
If you have questions about your headlights or want to make sure your headlights are properly aligned, please work with your dealer or body shop. For San Antonio headlight service, come to Northside Ford at 12300 San Pedro Ave. We will gladly assess your current headlamps and recommend alternatives that may help you see better at night. Contact our Northside Ford dealership and collision center at (210) 525-9800 to speak with a member of our team.