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I always stop far enough back to see "T&T" (tyres and tarmac) in front of me so I'm never close enough to the car in front to be dazzled, despite wearing glasses - at least that means I have my sight tested, and corrected when necessary every 2 years.
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I always stop far enough back to see "T&T" (tyres and tarmac) in front of me so I'm never close enough to the car in front to be dazzled, despite wearing glasses - at least that means I have my sight tested, and corrected when necessary every 2 years.
Don't think it comes down to how often you have tyour eyes tested. I wear glasses and have them tested but do have problems with dazzling brake lights as mentioned here.
I thnk it is more down to how sensitive your eyes are to bright lights - which I know mine are.
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The human eye has this wonderful facility to reduce the iris size in bright light, vice-versa in low light so that the light intensity on the retina is generally constant - this can be affected by many eye conditions as well as various substance abuses.
Dazzle/glare in traffic conditions is common but by no means usual or normal.
Sadly the UK/EU vision test is pathetically poor - my wife has a serious eye condition and her eyesight is not nearly good enough to continue driving - but in terms of the UK/EU vision test, it's twice as good as the requirement - and some people have never had their eyes tested since the 10 second check on their driving test.
Until we significantly raise the minimum eyesight standard and impose a regular eyesight test requirement it's difficult to research the glare issue seriously.
Edited by RT on 19/12/2013 at 22:05
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The human eye has this wonderful facility to reduce the iris size in bright light, vice-versa in low light so that the light intensity on the retina is generally constant - this can be affected by many eye conditions as well as various substance abuses.
It's not designed for high intensity LED lights to be blasted into it though - which is what the OP is talking about.
My eye sight is fine - just sensitive to bright lights that are much too bright to be on a car.
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The human eye has this wonderful facility to reduce the iris size in bright light, vice-versa in low light so that the light intensity on the retina is generally constant - this can be affected by many eye conditions as well as various substance abuses.
It's not designed for high intensity LED lights to be blasted into it though - which is what the OP is talking about.
My eye sight is fine - just sensitive to bright lights that are much too bright to be on a car.
And yet many drivers don't have your issue - even with cars in front so it's not just the cars.
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And yet many drivers don't have your issue - even with cars in front so it's not just the cars.
I've never said it is just the cars - but the lights I belive on some cars are much too bright and there is no need for them to be as bright as they are. Headlight and DRL as well as brake light.
Of course the rules on eyesight should be tightented up as well but dazzling lights would still be a problem or some drivers.
Out of interest my wife would pass the current eyesight test required for driving but she has an eye condition that would not allow her to drive a car when it gets dark or overcast and external lighting comes on.
Edited by alan1302 on 20/12/2013 at 22:59
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The human eye has this wonderful facility to reduce the iris size in bright light, vice-versa in low light so that the light intensity on the retina is generally constant - this can be affected by many eye conditions as well as various substance abuses.
Dazzle/glare in traffic conditions is common but by no means usual or normal.
Sadly the UK/EU vision test is pathetically poor - my wife has a serious eye condition and her eyesight is not nearly good enough to continue driving - but in terms of the UK/EU vision test, it's twice as good as the requirement - and some people have never had their eyes tested since the 10 second check on their driving test.
Until we significantly raise the minimum eyesight standard and impose a regular eyesight test requirement it's difficult to research the glare issue seriously.
I have my eyesight tested regularly, the last test was last weekend, my eyesight is normal. I would pass the driving eyesight test easily. It's only the bright white headlights, and those on certain vehicles such as Land Rovers, and of course badly adjusted lights, that bother me.
I suspect the problem is that the iris does not close down, because the eye sees a bright dazzling light and lots of darkness. Certainly it is not uncommon that I am left partially blinded by headlights. Incidentally, the iris is not perfect. It will stop down quickly, but not quickly enough to stop one being dazzled. It is easy to dazzle most people if not all using a bright LED torch.
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You are right. However good your eyes a sudden flash from those super bright or maladjusted headlights doesn't give your iris time to adjust. Bright brake lights are a peril too, night driving seems to be getting more and more difficult.
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It is an annoying feature of modern motoring. It is rude and inconsiderate and also lazy. They just can't be bothered to apply the handbrake. Possibly the phaff of an electric handbrake makes the execution more difficult, but they do release automatically when setting off. It isn't only vehicle with automatic transmissions that do this, nearly all vehicle, including vans and HGV's do it. I drive an auto car and I don't do it. I put it in park or neutral and apply the handbrake. Simples. But I am a considerate person, well most of the time!!!
Cheers Concrete
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I always stop far enough back to see "T&T" (tyres and tarmac) in front of me so I'm never close enough to the car in front to be dazzled, despite wearing glasses - at least that means I have my sight tested, and corrected when necessary every 2 years.
I am still dazzled even leaving T&T. I know electronic handbrakes are not as slick as the low-tech type, but with a bit of practice the drivers could learn good manners!
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I know electronic handbrakes are not as slick as the low-tech type, but with a bit of practice the drivers could learn good manners!
they are probably better because they release as soon as you drive off, all you have to do is push/pull a button depending on car- to put the handbrake on -simples-
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Actually this is the way automatic transmission drivers are taught to drive in many countries...
So true. It is so simple to apply the handbrake and drop the gearbox into neutral.
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I've waited ages to meet an employee of the European Commission and I think the OP might just be one!
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So true. It is so simple to apply the handbrake and drop the gearbox into neutral.
Not in stop start walking pace traffic - and it defeats the start/stop systems too.
It would be better just to make better lighting standards and ban these ultra-bright pin-prick light sources and have a larger evenly lit surfaces than changing the way you drive to change the way the lights shine. Some are too bright even on normal tailights. The new Yaris is one example.
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It is (used to be) so simple to apply the handbrake, yes it was in the good old days when cars had a pull up handbrake between the front seats.
Now, it's called progress, they have these cursed electronic parking brakes, if you only want to hold the car for a split second, it's easier to hold the car on the clutch or hold it on the footbrake as it is quicker than applying then releasing an electronic parking brake. Plus the fact electronic parking brakes are expensive to repair when they go wrong, aroud £1,000 to replace a failed parking brake actuator in my 2009 Avensis. In my opinion, electronic parking brakes encourage bad habits, holding a stationary car on the clutch and using the footbrake in preference to the parking brake.
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Brake lights, darkness with rain are my bugbear. I thhink most offenders are totally oblivious that they might be carrying out an inconsiderate act. Retaliating with main beam I can't see helping. :(
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Brake lights, darkness with rain are my bugbear. I thhink most offenders are totally oblivious that they might be carrying out an inconsiderate act. Retaliating with main beam I can't see helping. :(
Yes, don't think main beam would help. Perhaps a forward facing mirror to reflect their own brake lights back at them?
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There's several important things that are being lost in this, the latest light battle of who has the loudest brake lights.
1. Judging rate of deceleration is far more difficult with LED brake lights, go on follow a current E Class (as mentioned above, they're frankly ridiculous now) and see for yourself.
2. When rear lights are too bright, following drivers vision past the car in front is impeded, so pre warning/planning as any real driver does goes out the window.
3. With the technology now it would have been so easy to make brake lights intensify as the braking gets harder, its all or nothing at the moment.
Edited by Avant on 21/12/2013 at 16:03
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There's several important things that are being lost in this, the latest light battle of who has the loudest brake lights.
1. Judging rate of deceleration is far more difficult with LED brake lights, go on follow a current E Class (as mentioned above, they're frankly ridiculous now) and see for yourself.
2. When rear lights are too bright, following drivers vision past the car in front is impeded, so pre warning/planning as any real driver does goes out the window.
3. With the technology now it would have been so easy to make brake lights intensify as the braking gets harder, its all or nothing at the moment.
Agree with this, though some vehicles do have a special indication for heavy braking. On the BMW 1-series I had the brake lights became more intense, and on my current CR-V the hazard lights start flashing.
Edited by Avant on 21/12/2013 at 16:03
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Agree with this, though some vehicles do have a special indication for heavy braking. On the BMW 1-series I had the brake lights became more intense, and on my current CR-V the hazard lights start flashing.
Intensifying is step in the right direction, but i was more thinking along the lines of the high level brake light....i'm also in two minds about hazard light flashing, to my mind indicators should only mean one thing when a vehicle is moving, intention to turn or change lane.
There's no reason why the high level should light up for normal braking, and should extinguish completely when stationary by default (this would alleviate much of the OP's valid complaint), it would have been much better if the high level had only fired up at a pre set rate of deceleration, or brake pedal pressure, and pulsed or increased to super bright (possibly additional bulbs) at full braking.
This could easily have been a gentlemans agreement between manufacturers years ago.
As for the DRL battle, don't get me started on those for goodness sake, luckily those fitted to my lorry are switchable, and unless the prevalent visibility calls for them, they are permanently turned off.
Edited by Avant on 21/12/2013 at 16:02
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Actually this is the way automatic transmission drivers are taught to drive in many countries...
So they don't use 'auto hold' as fitted to my X3?
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