I try not to think about getting older, but two visual issues are making that rather difficult. The first, presbyopia, can’t be avoided; it comes for us all. Despite making it well into my 40s without so much as a ‘starter progressive’ or ‘booster’ lens, it’s time to accept, and maybe even embrace presbyopia.
I feel a bit better about the cause of my second visual grumble, glare while driving, because new research has recently found, it’s not just older drivers who have been complaining about the brightness of car headlights.
Over 40% of drivers under the age of 35 said most car headlights were too bright, dispelling the myth that only elderly drivers are affected by headlight glare. If any more proof were needed, look to the rather crudely titled Reddit thread, r/FuckYourHeadlights, created by 28-year-old Canadian, Paul Gatto.
Flippancy aside, the fact that headlight glare is becoming such a widespread issue in different age demographics should really accelerate legislative change.
The issue is on all the right radars – the Department for Transport, road safety charities, optical industry associations and even the World Health Organisation, which has a working group dedicated to the subject.
I am of the belief that car buyers specify the brightest lights possible to make themselves feel as safe as possible, regardless of the impact on others.
Until recently, I didn’t think that slightly selfish outlook would change, because as long as consumers spend money on feeling safe, car manufacturers will provide better and brighter options.
That said, a recent Saga study unearthed some data that provided an interesting counter-perspective. It found internet searches for LED headlights had fallen by 5% during the past 12 months.
While this might be down to LED headlights with self-levelling functionality being fitted as standard to more cars, it may also mean there’s less appetite to replace older headlight bulbs with brighter aftermarket LED units that dazzle other drivers. I just hope it’s the latter.
