[RabidRat]

Transport Canada's collecting feedback on headlight glare.

Survey link here:
(cutoff: April 20th, 2026)
https://tc.canada.ca/en/corporate-services/consultations/canadian-experience-vehicle-headlights-glare-night

Autopian article on this:
https://www.theautopian.com/you-can-now-directly-complain-to-the-government-about-blinding-headlights-if-youre-canadian/

My opinion:
Yeah it's sometimes an issue, but primarily it's with clapped out older vehicles with haphazardly slapped-in aftermarket bulbs to totally the wrong headlights. Never with OEM lights no matter how bright.

So maybe:
Mandate LED headlights in all new vehicle sales, so that in future there is no incentive to (improperly) retrofit the wrong bulbs into headlight with optics that weren't intended for them. E.g. HIDs into reflector style headlights.
Check for improper glare (either due to aim or improper optics) during safety testing, and in traffic enforcement.
Provision for adaptive beam / matrix headlights in the CMVSS (because I think they're still illegal in Canada).

[noclue]

For new cars with leds they need to have like a leveling module or calibrated better from the factory with tesla model y/3 in particular being bad at night

[djstyles]

tesla model y/3 in particular being bad at night

I've noticed this too, I thought it was just me.

[teggy604]

Its an issue for sure. Usually at dawn or dust. You can stand along side a long road and see which cars has blinding headlights. Its always the newer cars with their bright white LEDs

Super dangerous because your pupils will constrict leaving you blind for a few seconds.

[JDMDreams]

It's the damn priuses, and lifted pick up truck

[GLOW]

ya i think a lot of newer vehicles that are higher up and blind me. you'd think they would automatically adjust if they detect oncoming cars. my forester high beams detects oncoming traffic and automatically adjusts as to not blind oncoming cars.

[bcrdukes]

Completed. Thank you!

[yray]

fuck those mitsubishi led lights

tesla model 3 is a close second

[asian_XL]

Tesla model 3 headlights used to be adjustable inside the car. Not sure how they easily aim so high

[SSM_DC5]

Just hearsay, but a guy from tesla service says checking headlights aiming isn't part of inspections when selling them, but they will check it if you make a service appointment later.

[!LittleDragon]

When I'm blinded from behind, it's always some Tesla or Toyota. Sometimes it's so bad my whole interior is lit up.

One time, I raised my rear shade to reduce the glare... guy behind me saw the shade going up and flipped on his high beam... lol... douche...

[SkinnyPupp]

As a pedestrian I definitely get blinded by new vehicles all the time

[Hehe]

I think the glare you guys are referring is because of the automatic high beam? As in the car would switch to high beam when low light is detected and flip back when it detects car. But that flip is not instant.

Both the Mitsu Outlander and Tesla 3/Ys are among the list of few cars that got "Good" rating from IIHS headlights testing, and IIHS does test for glaring to coming traffics.

[RabidRat]

Sounds like they're not getting adjusted properly from the factory. I guess the IIHS should be taking random samples and not just the one perfect one sent by the manufacturer.

[68style]

Hehe can't even tolerate criticism of a Tesla's headlights lol

[Hehe]

Hehe can't even tolerate criticism of a Tesla's headlights lol

Actually I didn't even see Tesla at first. I first saw Mitsubishi and Prius and I was like... I thought I read Mitsubishi and Prius both tested pretty well on tests.

The list of cars on IIHS with "Good" rating on headlight is quite short (most have Acceptable), and Prius was the first car ever to gain "Good" rating.

[yray]

tested well for driver

[dark0821]

shit..my 2 vehicles are.... a tesla and a prius....

pls no hate pls

[Hehe]

tested well for driver

That's the point on my previous post, IIHS does test for coming traffic glare as well (it's one of the key points).

[68style]

Well every time I’ve ever been blinded at night if it’s not a Civic with its actual high beams on, it’s been a fucking Model 3 or Model Y or some of the Acura SUVs (I think the MDX with its laser lights or whatever gimmick they use) are really bad. I used to high beam flash all the stupid Teslas until I realized their high beams weren’t on, they’re just terrible. Not sure about the new front fascia with them though, they’ might have toned it down.

There was an entire episode of Jason Camisa’s podcast a couple years ago dedicated to how manufacturers circumvent the rules/government testing and Tesla is/was one of the biggest offenders.

[radeonboy]

There was an entire episode of Jason Camisa’s podcast a couple years ago dedicated to how manufacturers circumvent the rules/government testing and Tesla is/was one of the biggest offenders.

IIRC that podcast episode correctly, most if not all the new manufacturers circumvent the government rules by having a dead spot where the light intensity data is collected. In Vancouver's case, Teslas might stick out as repeat offenders because there are so many on the road that there'll be more than a few clueless drivers.

I also find automatic high beams highly inaccurate - sometimes I'd be driving down a neighborhood with street lights and my car would just turn on the high beams inappropriately.

[acrophobia]

Subarus with retrofit led headlights…get your sunglasses out cause the glare is unreal. My parents have a 22 Crosstrek and there is zero cutoff, my mom says she gets flashed all the time but likes it because she never needs to use the high beams :pokerface:

[!LittleDragon]

I also find automatic high beams highly inaccurate - sometimes I'd be driving down a neighborhood with street lights and my car would just turn on the high beams inappropriately.

Are auto high beams supposed to work like that? My last 2 cars had auto high beams and I've never had them turn on automatically like that. I have to decide to turn the high beams on and then it'll automatically turn off/on if I'm approaching a car or if there's an oncoming car.

[radeonboy]

Are auto high beams supposed to work like that? My last 2 cars had auto high beams and I've never had them turn on automatically like that. I have to decide to turn the high beams on and then it'll automatically turn off/on if I'm approaching a car or if there's an oncoming car.

I'm not quite sure why, but all my cars have triggered false positives over the years. Nowadays I just keep automatic headlights but disable auto high beams.

[!LittleDragon]

Oh yah no... lol... you're not supposed to keep the auto high beams on. Only turn the auto high beam on when you need high beams. I'm surpised they stay on. On my cars, the setting resets to off when I shut off the car.

[radeonboy]

I guess I'm part of the problem :lol

[RabidRat]

radeonboy response to Transport Canada survey: "I'm turning myself in."

[underscore]

My opinion:
Yeah it's sometimes an issue, but primarily it's with clapped out older vehicles with haphazardly slapped-in aftermarket bulbs to totally the wrong headlights. Never with OEM lights no matter how bright.

My experience is the opposite, nowadays I rarely see the janky retrofits that used to be a problem 10-15 years ago and it's almost always a new vehicle blinding me with overly bright and poorly aimed headlights.

The exception are semis. I'm not sure who is supposed to be inspecting those things but they're slacking when it comes to checking the lights.

[supafamous]

I also find automatic high beams highly inaccurate - sometimes I'd be driving down a neighborhood with street lights and my car would just turn on the high beams inappropriately.

I find my auto high beams (RDX) to be inaccurate in the other direction - they should be turning on way more than they do. In my 6 years of ownership they've maybe turned on 10 times and the street I live on has no streetlights (fuck you Burnaby!) which seems like a natural opportunity to turn on every time I come home at night.