How to tackle the headlight glare while driving in the night

there are so many people those ignore the request the lowering the beams.when i was used to go with my father on long highways in the night the opposite vehicles especially lorries come in high beams they have i think 4 huge round headlights.once what happened is once a lorry having 8 headlights or so once came in front of us.ijust requested to lower the beam by dipping my headlights.then he just swithced to high beam then i was not able to see a thing.he came near front of my car!!!then i just i turned to left(extremely left).that was a close call!then i just turned the car and went near the truck and i stopped the car in front of truck.he to stopped.then my father just came out of car and scolded him like anything. i called the police and they arrived what we saw is he was an underaged boy driving a truck loaded with 15 tonns!!!he was fined 500/-and owner was charged high penalties.that incident happened near the trucks association office.from that time onwards i noticed that whwnever a truck comes near a car or two wheeler,then they just swich to low beams.that was like a lesson to truck drivers.

now next project is oncoming glare of cars and uv's.will post soon

ha ha. that is something good. but Mr.Gandhiji. u cant tame everyone so. all are not the same. scolding will work, unless the other is weaker. dont try that with college boys and car owners.  

doing things like aravind is sometimes good and works even better. and next thing i learnt, i dont get irritated while driving complaining all the oncomers and having an irritated drive. i just simply enjoy my drive 90% regardless of what the others do. sometimes i go just opposite and sometimes i just ignore. sometimes i put my low beam only though they come in high beam. and sometimes damn put all the high beams if they wanna play. if someone scolds i do that back. :P pulling me over is some times fun for me. i enjoy my ride. heard scoldings hell lot of times-and i just laugh back which makes them more irritated. why to raise ur temper. i too have pulled over others, (but not in car). first thing shouldnt get irritated while driving. that spoils the driving pleasure. in car just enjoy the in-car-pleasure.

in a two way lane, while overtaking i strictly follow low beam because the other person shouldnt be blinded. that would cause damage to us only. in single way lane, no probs. opposite light is my least botheration. as mentioned by someone, not facing the headlight and just focussing the road u can easily drive off. but my advise please install the front windshield film.

While driving in nights first we have to look the darker side of the road, go to low beam before offering to the opposite vehicle and back to high beam. This will help to view the obstacles which ever in the road. Mosat we could not judge the cyclist those are going in the left side of us. During this time I reduced the speed and proceed. 

very usefull thread. i dont know how i missed thisone. this thread must remain on top of the forum, sothat amatures like me can be verymuch benifited. thanks to all who presented their views. keep up the good work.

I just saw this thread. Guess joining late. Nothing much to add. since I returned from abroad, thought of posting my perspective on high beam issue.

It is so ridiculous and carelessness on the part of motorists (car and bikes) to use high beam in high way with oncoming vehicles and also in city traffic where there are street lights already. I was blinded so much, that i tried using sun glasses in the night. But that seemed too dangerous. Then signalled oncoming high beamers by flipping high/low, it didn't help. 99% of oncoming motorists have their high beams on. So who should I pick to signal. Just mind blowing. Really stupid of them.

They are not only risking their lives but others too. Only God can tame these fools.

Drb, i think you were away from India for a long time, that's why you didn't know the state of things. Welcome back and here there are no rules followed and those who follow rules meet with accidents and are looked silly

For those who dont mind upgrading headlights to hiher wattage bulbs, I think the problem is solved. Now, with my rallyes, I just need to flick the switch to high beam, and the opposite driver will readily budge. It is as powerful. The low beam is good enough for drives and doesnt cause any glare though.

@sunsril - yes have been away for 2 decades. and back. As you said, if one follows the rule, they look even more stupid. The other day, I was waiting for green to come on, but others started to turn because oncoming traffic was not there. You can imagine the amount of honking and swearing at me. Finally I had to yield. I will get tamed and pretty soon I will follow 'new self written indian traffic rule'.

@sanshrianand - I thought of doing that. But what if the oncoming vehicle gets so distracted and hit you? Also can all models of cars accept such high powered lamps? Any suggestions?

As you have rightly quoted, if one follows the rule, they look even more stupid. Most of the people switch to higher rated bulbs during their first visit to the accessory store. Also, with their glaring lights, you will have chances of running into them before they would do to you Hence, though its not the right way, its the only way you can have a good view and also tame others on the road. I am saying this after trying to live with stock setup and facing close calls on the road due to the lack of common sense of others on the road. 

I did not mean that you need to blind them on the road by continuously running on high beam. When you have powerful lamps, the moment you switch to high beam, the oncoming driver will get a dose of his own medicine. Hence they budge instantly. Truckers also will co-operate with you. So, it is just for a small moment(s) that you need to flash your beam

well its good to give respect to the other road users and get respect. of course everyone ll not do so. driving at reasonable speeds at night ll do. its obvious that u ll drive atleast 20KMPH slower at night. yet following other good methods will make u a good samartian.

since i am pretty amateur and drive occasionally on highways. i drive at speeds of abt 60KMPH at night at which i am comfortable if there is no other vehicle going in the same direction. but if i find one, i try to catch up with it. thus it becomes my shield against oncomming glare.

other thing is moving to low beam as soon as u see a oncomming vehicle, keeping to the left, see the left most part of the road, slow down slightly.

further on certain roads which are too narrow keep slow, anticipate the other vehicle, give passage of way to the other vehicle if it is near to a narrow bridge.

donot get off the road unless unavoidable. ask the bigger vehicle to do so. thus slow down and stop at the passing point and put to low beam. and then proceed.

regards