4 ms·

I'm not sure that's enough. Newer SUV cars have headlights which are stronger and bluer already coming out of the assembly line. When I have a SUV behind my re

I'm not sure that's enough. Newer SUV cars have headlights which are stronger and bluer already coming out of the assembly line. When I have a SUV behind my regular utilitarian, I'm fully blinded. The higher headlights reflect directly both into the rear and side mirrors. The strength is also overshadowing my own headlights (I see the shadow of my car in front of me). When a new car is going in the opposite direction, I'm never fully sure if the driver just forgot the high-headlights or not.

jbay808 7y ago
As a civic driver I notice this a lot. One tip which you probably know already but not everyone does: you can darken your rear view mirror by flipping the tab on the bottom. Unfortunately no equivalent for your side mirrors.
- whatevah5982 7y ago
  The darkening is sufficient for regular cars, but it's almost useless when the headlight of the SUV behind you is at the driver's level :( I bought my car used a while ago, and it's now ~10 years old. I find the stock headlights to be perfectly adequate to drive in rural areas (and I live/drive regularly rural streets without street lights). The difference with newer cars though is _staggering_. It's not only SUVs.
- davidgay 7y ago
  Auto-dimming side-view mirrors now exist (as a package with an auto-dimming main mirror for Subaru at least).
  - brewdad 7y ago
    I have these on my Volvo. They are great for avoiding bright headlights from behind but they make it virtually impossible to see a bike that may be approaching in the bike lane. Anything with headlights that aren't super bright becomes dim or virtually invisible.
frosted-flakes 7y ago
If you have an interior rear-view mirror, your side mirrors should be pointed at the lanes next to you, not behind you. Not only does this reduce blindspots, but also overly bright headlights reflecting. When a car passes you from behind, you should see it move from the rear to the side mirrors without moving your head. Of course, if you drive a truck or are towing a trailer, that's a different story.
- falcolas 7y ago
  > your side mirrors should be pointed at the lanes next to you Ironically, this gets harder and harder in some newer cars. My driver's side mirror reaches its limit precisely as my car (a 2018 Outback) side disappears from the view. It's unfortunate how much flexibility we've lost with these mirrors.

jbay808 7y ago

As a civic driver I notice this a lot. One tip which you probably know already but not everyone does: you can darken your rear view mirror by flipping the tab on the bottom. Unfortunately no equivalent for your side mirrors.

whatevah5982 7y ago
The darkening is sufficient for regular cars, but it's almost useless when the headlight of the SUV behind you is at the driver's level :( I bought my car used a while ago, and it's now ~10 years old. I find the stock headlights to be perfectly adequate to drive in rural areas (and I live/drive regularly rural streets without street lights). The difference with newer cars though is _staggering_. It's not only SUVs.
davidgay 7y ago
Auto-dimming side-view mirrors now exist (as a package with an auto-dimming main mirror for Subaru at least).
- brewdad 7y ago
  I have these on my Volvo. They are great for avoiding bright headlights from behind but they make it virtually impossible to see a bike that may be approaching in the bike lane. Anything with headlights that aren't super bright becomes dim or virtually invisible.

frosted-flakes 7y ago

If you have an interior rear-view mirror, your side mirrors should be pointed at the lanes next to you, not behind you. Not only does this reduce blindspots, but also overly bright headlights reflecting. When a car passes you from behind, you should see it move from the rear to the side mirrors without moving your head. Of course, if you drive a truck or are towing a trailer, that's a different story.

falcolas 7y ago
> your side mirrors should be pointed at the lanes next to you Ironically, this gets harder and harder in some newer cars. My driver's side mirror reaches its limit precisely as my car (a 2018 Outback) side disappears from the view. It's unfortunate how much flexibility we've lost with these mirrors.