cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/31960985
this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2026
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Opposite of my experience. The LEDs are brighter, but they're focused and many cut out other vehicles from the beam. Xenons/HIDs also have cutoffs and even automatic height adjustment by law in Europe, so unless someone's fucked with the suspension, they don't blind you too much on low beams.
Oldschool halogens though? Most used to not have a projector at all. They'd just shine all over the place.
And of course any aftermarket install of HIDs or LEDs is bound to blind people. It's also illegal (except fairly low output LEDs in place of halogens or HIDs sometimes)
This is an america problem.
Europe uses the international standard for headlight regulations, whereas the US has their own standard which is far worse for glare.
US headlights don't have the clear cutoff line. The headlights are allowed to throw significantly more light at the angles that should be dark.
Not only that, the regulations on beam alignment are based solely on angles, and do not account for vehicle height. This means higher headlights both illuminate more of the road, and dazzle more drivers, so automakers mount the headlights as high as possible. American trucks and SUVs are notorious for this. If you drive a normal car in the US, SUVs from the factory will have headlights above your eyeline, which means you get the full force of the headlight beam shined directly into your eyes. Which american regulations also mandate be brighter than Europe.
It must be nice having a real government. I hope to live somewhere that has one someday.
My car has matrix headlights so it can leave oncoming vehicles in a dark area while brightly illuminating the edge and side of the road
Modern lights are good to excellent
Those still blind the fuck out of cyclists and pedestrians.
It's a typical solution from the car industry which assumes everyone else is also (or should be) in a car.
We went from a 2008 Renault to a 2018 BMW. Every time we drive at night I am blown away by the lights. Absolutely brilliant, but basically none of it goes into on-coming traffic.
You're absolutely right. Headlights have been getting better in the last 10 years I've noticed