Driving in America Is Headlight Hell

4 hours ago

The problem of excessively bright LED headlights in the U.S. causes discomfort and safety concerns for drivers, with complaints widespread on platforms like Reddit.
American vehicles, especially taller SUVs and trucks, exacerbate glare due to their height and the intensity of blue-tinted LED lights, which are more blinding than older halogen lamps.
Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) technology, common in Europe, Asia, and Canada, can adjust headlight beams to avoid blinding others, but U.S. regulations have delayed its adoption.
Despite 2021 rule changes, NHTSA imposed stricter standards than international norms, making it illegal to activate existing ADB tech in many U.S. cars without costly redesigns.
Rivian became the first U.S. automaker to implement compliant adaptive beams in 2024, requiring significant vehicle modifications, with Tesla and Audi following suit gradually.
Even as new cars adopt adaptive beams, the slow turnover of vehicles (averaging 13 years on the road) means blinding headlights will persist, with the tech benefiting other drivers more than owners.

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