BOSTON --

Glare From Headlights

Headlights are much brighter than they were in the past. Regular headlights are built better, but new technologically advances like halogen lamps and the blue high-intensity xenon lamps create even greater glare for oncoming drivers. As we age, our eyes don't see as well at night. The older we get, the worse our night vision becomes. Night vision weakness is one of the first problems to develop with our eyesight. Driving at night, with the glare from oncoming vehicles, is a highly fatiguing act.

Laws on headlight use vary from state to state, but the general rule of the road is, turn your headlights off if you can be seen by oncoming traffic.

Flashing your brights

This is a common practice to get an oncoming driver to turn their bright headlights off. It seems more and more these days that drivers don't respond by turning off their high beams. They're either not paying attention, or just don't care.

Some people recommend that you do not flash your high-beams in this situation. It creates a situation where two drivers driving toward each other both have a visual handicap. This, as you can imagine, increases the risk of a head-on collision.

How to deal with night glare

Avert your eyes slightly down and to the right. I was taught to focus on the white line on the right side of the road. This provides you with a reference to keep your car on the road and reduces the recovery time your eyes will need when the other car passes. You will, of course, need to use your peripheral vision to keep your attention on the other vehicle as it passes. You will need to be aware of its position and location in case you need to react to it in some way.

Rearview Mirror

If your rearview mirror has a night-day function, use it. You can still see what's behind you, but the glare of the other driver's headlights will not be so intense.