Don’t blame senior drivers for too-bright LED headlights: Roadshow

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Q: A letter writer blamed the elderly for bright car headlights, saying they needed those lights because of failing eyesight. It’s absurd! Old people don’t design the cars being built. And the cars are not specifically designed for people over 65.

Paul Jacobs, Saratoga

A: And….

Q: Comments accusing older drivers of having blinding headlights have made me furious! Entitled? Stop driving at night? Take Uber, do you deliver food? Where does she get off thinking they’re just senior drivers? Is it even possible to buy a new car these days without LED lighting?

Gwynne Willison

A: You are both right. These LED headlights are fitted to vehicles purchased by drivers of all ages. Traffic engineers say these headlights allow drivers to use them to spot pedestrians and cyclists more easily.

Q: Bright LED headlights are especially problematic for SUVs and trucks that approach small footprint vehicles. They are equivalent to high beams in terms of blinding other drivers. In defensive driving lessons, I learned to look down and to the right, staying aware of the oncoming vehicle in my peripheral vision. It’s not ideal, but it helps.

Edna T. Pampy, Santa Clara

A: And…

Q: My safe and easy way to avoid these headlights is to focus my eyes on the right side of my lane, keeping the road in my peripheral vision. The best lanes to use are those with a white line on the side, which helps you stay in the lane. It really helps when driving on mountain roads at night. I think I read that in your column years ago.

Dave McHone, Boulder Creek

A: A related idea…

Q: I’m sure a hundred people will tell you about this trick. When I see super bright headlights coming, I close my right eye and, depending on the traffic, turn my head slightly to the right. You lose depth perception, but as soon as “Bright Light Guy” is no longer in front of you, your right eye is still accommodated to darkness.

I learned this trick while waiting to walk into a dark movie theater. Once inside, you didn’t stumble around waiting for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Don Luttrell, San Jose

A: Finally…

Q: I am looking to the right. On two-lane roads, I partially watch the white stripe on the side of the road. On the freeway, I look towards the lane to my right. I never drive in the left lane because I don’t want to go over the 10-15 mph speed limit and don’t want to be confronted with headlights on the other side of the freeway.

Carol Zink, Redwood City

A: This is the last word for today.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at [email protected].

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