# Plague of headlight brightness **URL:** \ **Category:** Safety\ **Created:** [January 13, 2026, 3:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821 "2026-01-13T03:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/21 "2026-01-13T19:21:45Z")
I upgraded my 2023 to (Germany) H9 from the standard H11 low beams, it is much better and it still has the same cut off line, I can easily see that I am not blinding people due to the cut off line, and they are not as bright as the HID’s and LED’s out there, now my LED fogs (on all the time except bright) and they are low and light up the edge of the road, never been flashed… Here is a good read about head lights from a vehicle design engineer, he explains (goes way over my head) head lights and stuff, it is mainly about the 3rd gen Tacoma’s, but lots of good info in the thread, (it has over 6,800 post so far)… > **[3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights](https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/)** > > 3rd Gen Tacoma HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights > > This thread covers upgrading the 3rd gen Tacoma H11 headlights and looking at the... ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/22 "2026-01-14T01:17:21Z")
I know that I’ll catch a load of slack for saying so, but in this headlight alignment context, tire pressure adjustment matters also. I’m sure that if the front or rear axle is more than 5psi away from spec, that can impact headlight aim, for lower or higher. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 1:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/23 "2026-01-14T01:18:05Z")
Two points: 1. We had two Cobalts, 2009 and 2010. Both had low and abrupt headlight cutoffs. It didn’t change when turning the brights on. I thought the low cutoff was unsafe. Maybe I should have given both cars the Carolina Squat treatment. 😉 2. I originally took Rep. Perez’s complaint to be that too many people never turned off the brights when approaching traffic. I have certainly found that to be the case. I find myself averting my gaze right and slightly down until bright boy has passed. I didn’t read the NYT opinion piece. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/24 "2026-01-14T03:35:20Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > I know that I’ll catch a load of slack for saying so, but in this headlight alignment context, tire pressure adjustment matters also. Who said it didn’t. > [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > I’m sure that if the front or rear axle is more than 5psi away from spec, that can impact headlight aim, for lower or higher. The difference between headlight alignment and tire pressure with modern cars is TPSM mandated since 2008. Some vehicles like 2005 4runner had them even sooner. It’s tough to tell if your headlights are blinding someone or not. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/25 "2026-01-14T04:21:53Z")
When I had HID I noticed a distinct cutoff line. With leds I don’t notice that. Maybe it’s there but I don’t notice it. Maybe gonna eventually need little visors on the headlights. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/26 "2026-01-14T05:09:18Z")
Need to have a mirror along the road so drivers can see what they look like. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/27 "2026-01-14T15:44:34Z")
A big part of this issue is that our headlight regulations in the US are antiquated and don’t allow the better systems used in Europe. Those can send more light to the empty areas of the road while sending less light to the oncoming cars. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/28 "2026-01-14T16:18:04Z")
IIHS tests headlights. Here’s one report for the Honda Accord. > **[Headlights - 2026 Honda Accord 4-door sedan](https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/honda/accord-4-door-sedan/2026#headlights)** > > Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side | 2026 Honda Accord 4-door sedan - midsize car ---
**Author:** ![vipergg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@vipergg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vipergg)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/29 "2026-01-15T01:23:54Z")
She is not lyeing , this is 100% true . IT is to the dangerous point with some of these LED and HID headlights . ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/30 "2026-01-15T02:19:18Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > Who said it didn’t. Anyone who likes to just argue. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 5:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/31 "2026-01-15T05:07:31Z")
Her mostly rural constituents have been complaining to her and at least she’s tried to bring up the issue. Particularly in Clark County which is rural once you get north of Vancouver WA Basically a suburb of Portland Or. Doesn’t look like she’s had any luck yet. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 6:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/32 "2026-01-15T06:04:19Z")
So Rep. Gluesencamp’s case might not stick. Is it specifically an issue of the headlights being too bright, or of something more nuanced about them? ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 8:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/33 "2026-01-15T08:54:41Z")
Found the article , hilly back roads with no street lights are the main source of complaints. This paper is in a town east of Vancouver WA on the Columbia River. I’ve been there but not since a relative lived there in 88. Authorities get complaints but they can’t do anything about it. > **[Rep. Perez calls for federal regulation to dim overly bright headlights](https://www.camaspostrecord.com/news/2025/jun/05/rep-perez-calls-for-federal-regulation-to-dim-overly-bright-headlights/)** > > During a time of extreme partisanship, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez wants to work on a problem that seems to unite most Americans in disdain:… ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 11:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/34 "2026-01-15T11:15:44Z")
Even if headlights are properly aimed at the factory, there will be times when cars are in a turn, or cresting a hill, when the light from their headlights will project into places where it is discomforting. Disclaimer: “I don’t know what I’m talking about!!!” ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 5:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/35 "2026-01-16T05:25:29Z")
It was a little cloudy today but not too bad. I had a pick up in back of me at a stop light. His headlight was extremely bright and shining in my side mirror. I just studied it for a minute and concluded it wasn’t the aiming but the brightness. Low beam in day light and hurt your eyes looking at it. There is a regulation on this, 55 something, but I can’t see how these would pass. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/36 "2026-01-16T14:46:55Z")
I’ve had truck lights glaring off my left side view mirror. It seems to me that it’s mostly the height of the light. I drive a sedan and light truck headlights are at about the same level as my outside mirrors. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821/37 "2026-01-16T15:49:31Z")
Even back when most vehicles used sealed beam occasionally would hit my exterior rear view mirror. I would just look away or angle the mirror. With “modern” headlights, some appear to have their brights on, I can’t tell, so I don’t flash my brights. Way back when I took drivers ed, we were taught to look down and right to avoid headlight glare. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plague-of-headlight-brightness/204821.md?page=1)