Readers offer their solutions to deflect blinding headlights

QI have been reading your column for at least

20 years. But the recent column on bright headlights was the best ever, and the most personally beneficial.

I thought I was going crazy because bright headlights bother me. I have complained about headlights and even bright LED flashlights. Now I know I’m not alone or crazy.

— Robert Whitehair,

San Mateo

A

Crazy? No. Alone? Definitely not.

Q

Many (most) of us are not adjusting side mirrors properly, and these bright headlights from tailgaters are blinding us. Please spread the word, Gary!

— Stephen Bartlett

AHere is the word: Turn your outside mirrors away from your car so you cannot see the rear of your car and this is what happens, according to Mike-the-Dog-Park-Guy.

QI move the mirrors until the offending lights don’t reflect back into my eyes. It does limit my view of traffic on the side, so I have to be careful. One day when I moved the sideview mirrors, I noticed that the car behind me backed way off. I had moved the driver’s side mirror up and to the side, away from my car. Apparently, the mirror was reflecting the offender’s lights back at him/her and they backed way off.

I now do this whenever I am blinded by lights in my side-view mirrors. I choose to do it because I am safer being able to see forward and being careful on the sides than being blinded by bright lights.

— Mike Cognitor,

San Jose

AFollow Mike’s lead on this. It works.

QPolarized lenses are the best. It is especially good when it’s raining. Even if tinted, the glare is reduced. I even use my polarized dark glasses at night.

— Ben Tsuchimoto

A

And …

QAll you need to combat the bright headlights coming at you is night vision glasses. I got mine from Dr. Leonard’s catalog. You can also get them at Amazon. Keep them in your car.

— Loris Zimmerman

A

That’s the goal.

QI really appreciate the column on ultrabright headlights. I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous these lights are. I have literally been stopped from seeing the road/car ahead of me when one of these Star Wars laser sabers comes at me from either the front or the back of my car. I have been complaining about this for several years and nobody seems to care.

And thank you for the information about emailing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I will do that.

— Sharon Prager,

San Mateo

AEmail the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at nhtsahotline@telesishq. com or call 888-327-4236 to comment on this road woe.