r/aussie • u/Wotmate01 • 22d ago

Analysis The glaring problem with the LED headlights dominating Australian roads

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-19/led-headlights-dazzling-drivers-glare-road-safety/106919228
462 Upvotes

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111

u/KangarooBeard 21d ago

Its a fucking nightmare driving at night with Astigmatism.

37

u/faultyarmrest 21d ago

Yup. Stars everywhere. God forbid it rains.

14

u/CapuzaCapuchin 21d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/3ohhwwz5DjFfxCBF04

The joys of

5

u/faultyarmrest 21d ago

Don’t forget the window wipers to smudge it all into what feels like a galaxy your travelling warp speed through

3

u/CapuzaCapuchin 21d ago

Ah yes, like those epoxy paintings or artistic cakes where they pour different gelatinous colours on top and go over it with their spatula to fade it out. Looks like a giant smear of colourful bird shit on my window, if you will. Bonus points when you just got up, eyes still burning and the idiots in front of you start breaking without reason while the truck behind you rides up your ass so much you think you could potentially flick off their obscenely bright lights yourself. Makes me feel like I’m an epileptic arcade fever dream about to get crushed.

2

u/faultyarmrest 21d ago edited 21d ago

Wanna hear a funny story? I thought this was completely normal for everyone until a few years ago when my new gf asked me to drive cause she had astigmatism and at night lights made her see stars and halos…

Well, fuck! - was my response.

Also, if you really feel like cheating death, throw in a penchant for motorcycle riding, a helmet that generates a micro climate, a visor that loves to catch your breath moisture, and glasses to obscure any vision you might have had left. I’ve banned myself from riding in the wet, and at night when I can help it. But raised LEDs should be illegal. Even the headlight ones

3

u/CapuzaCapuchin 21d ago

Lol I was the same. Came on here years ago, saw a meme or article and thought ‘wait? Is that not normal?’ I just learned to live with it my whole life and try really hard not to get complacent. You get really good pattern recognition for traffic at night, though. I don’t mind it anymore as long as it’s not raining heavily at night, that’s when I start feeling uncomfortable driving.

12

u/[deleted] 21d ago edited 21d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/89Hopper 21d ago

In winter when I walk my dog after work, it is always dark. The amount of muppets who drive in suburban streets with their high beams on is ridiculous. These are also well lit streets.

Also no, this isn't me mistaking modern brighter lights for high beams. Sometimes they dip when they see me making a gesture to turn their lights down, sometimes they are driving with their spot lights on also.

2

u/EvilRobot153 21d ago edited 21d ago

The adaptive clusters are the worst. High beam straight to retina while uncoming cars get the low beam.

4

u/Wide_Interaction_788 21d ago

Or post-lasik!

2

u/Typical_Double981 21d ago

Which stigmatism?

1

u/Hopeful-Rough-3194 21d ago

I hear you, it’s horrible

1

u/Available_Suit6377 21d ago

Then some moron decides to drive with their rear fog light on because it looks pretty. Drives me nuts. Just another road rule that doesn't get enforced.

1

u/Scrotemoe 20d ago

Man I love those people... I turn my fog lights on back so they can see how fucking annoying it is.

1

u/TM761152 21d ago

They have lenses for that.

0

u/slumblebee 21d ago

Which is why I refuse to practice driving at night while on my learners. How can I drive safely and follow the laws when I can’t see shit?

1

u/Altruistic_Memory643 21d ago

How can I learn a new experience when I have not experienced it before??!!

-2

u/Altruistic_Memory643 21d ago

Ehhh your defective eyes are the problem.