Concerns with bigger modern cars & brighter headlamps The relative size of modern cars, particularly SUVs, compared with classic cars has been a concern for some time, but it is getting worse. SUVs and 4x4s are getting larger and for classic car drivers, and indeed for some drivers of modest sized modern cars, two concerns are becoming worrying - the visibility of smaller cars on the road and the glare from headlights at night. Alongside the relative size issue is illustrated A Range Rover is 2ft or 0.6m taller than an MGBGTV8 but also a consequential issue with that height difference, when headlights are on, is that the horizontal line from the headlights of a 4x4 heads straight to face of a driver in the MGBGTV8! Headlight dazzle Recent articles in the Which? magazine and on the RAC website highlight "headlight dazzle" as a real problem and an increasing danger for drivers. Link Headlight dazzle at night is caused by modern high-intensity LED and xenon bulbs (which emit a whiter, bluer light and are more directional than older halogen bulbs), misaligned lights, and higher-riding SUVs. Parked up at Goodwood alongside a Range Rover in 2021. Link Posted: 261014 Relative size issue How to avoid glare from oncoming headlights? The RAC online article says to reduce the effects of headlight glare at night, the College of Optometrists, which the RAC works closely with on this topic, recommends the following top five tips: 1. Keep your windscreen clean and smudge-free to reduce the impact of glare. 2. If you wear glasses, ensure they’re clean and smudge-free too. 3. Stay up to date with sight tests with your local optometrist to ensure your glasses help you see as well as possible when driving and your eyes are healthy. 4. When presented with bright oncoming headlights, keep your eyes open and briefly look to the curb or side of the road until you can see clearly again. This will keep you safe and help minimise the discomfort of glare. 5. Finally, be considerate when driving and dip your headlights when required. If you have automatically dimming headlamps, remember they don’t always pick up oncoming cars, cyclists and pedestrians, so know how to dip them manually. In addition, adjust your rear view mirror at night to reduce the effect of bright headlights behind you. Newer cars have self-dimming mirrors that can also help, although you may notice you still experience unavoidable glare through your wing mirrors. If you are dazzled while driving it’s important to safely slow down, or even stop your vehicle until your vision improves.