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BsFan t1_jdcf1wa wrote

There are tons of dark, windy, rural roads within 495. More important thing is to shut your high beams off when you see another car coming.

167

lisa_williams_wgbh t1_jdcf8de wrote

I often wonder if folks are using their high beams or if newer cars just have headlights that are really way too bright. Cars that are very high up off the ground tend to shine a light right into my rearview too.

298

eeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkie t1_jdcgfux wrote

The amount of people that just drive around 24/7 with their high beams on this just enraging.

17

itsonlyastrongbuzz t1_jdchkz5 wrote

Blue Hills are inside 128.

If you’re going through Chickatawbut Road you better have high beams.

But aside from very few exceptions, I agree.

14

sarcasticlhath t1_jdchzbn wrote

Now I’ve seen it all. The internet is closed.

−11

VicVinegar88 t1_jdcilm0 wrote

There doesn't seem to be any middle ground anymore. People here either have the brightest headlights possible or don't turn their headlights on at all. The latter baffles me more because pretty much every car nowadays should have automatic headlights, even my 20 year old car has them.

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Borner791 t1_jdciob0 wrote

you used to get pulled over for this, when did that stop?

10

Upgrayyedd43 t1_jdcjdov wrote

Bruh y’all complain about everything in here

−12

HammerfestNORD t1_jdcn94e wrote

Fuck off. I use HB pretty much anywhere. I know when to shut them off. HB is very useful to light up pedestrians, bicycles and animals. Even on city streets.

−20

putinmcockiner t1_jdcnjb4 wrote

Replying to VicVinegar88 (#2,316,509)

There’s a few years there where they started illuminating dashboards at all times but didn’t make headlights automatic yet. Because of this, some people don’t realize their headlights aren’t on because the dashboard is all lit up.

11

Fencius t1_jdcnzfp wrote

You certainly don’t need them everywhere, but they’re good to have

1

nluken t1_jdcoacc wrote

Replying to HammerfestNORD (#2,316,989)

If you need high beams to drive on Boston’s generally well-lit city streets at night for some reason, I’m scared to think of how you drive outside the city.

Signed, a pedestrian you’re blinding.

16

mattgm1995 t1_jdcp90f wrote

Lol obviously you’ve never gone through the woods of boxford, Topsfield, Ipswich, etc. High beams are absolutely necessary, just know when to shut them off. Also helpful in identifying the pedestrians dressed head to toe in dark clothing walking on the side of the road at night. Smh

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S4drobot t1_jdcprky wrote

You definitely need them in parts of waltham and lexington.

6

2nd-Hand-Butt-Plug t1_jdcrbdt wrote

Replying to Borner791 (#2,316,519)

Sort of, I got pulled over for it last Thanksgiving.

Was heading home on Rt2 in Concord and didn't dim my lights for a cop car coming the other way. He didn't cite me, give me a warning or anything, didn't even want my registration after I asked him if he needed it. He checked my DL, told me why he pulled me over and that was it.

In all honesty I think the main reason he pulled me over was as an excuse for fishing for drunk drivers on a holiday.

8

tsv1138 t1_jdcs7zs wrote

Ok, tangental, but related question. The city replaced the street lights out in front of my place with these superbright LED lights and they are crazy bright. Like I don't need to turn on lights in my house anymore bright. Does anyone know who to reach out to to change the street light to a bulb with less lumens than the sun? Has anyone else experienced this? It's like being in front of someone with those insane blue headlights but... on my couch or making dinner or trying to sleep.

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chadwickipedia t1_jdcsw3i wrote

I live just inside 495 and they are a requirement at night. Pitch black with no street lights or sidewalks

10

work-n-lurk t1_jdcub4z wrote

Big one I have noticed recently is blinding yellow fog lights on all the time.

2

Clamgravy t1_jdcudom wrote

Yeah but it is a lot easier than replacing a broken bulb

​

/s

3

redtech42 t1_jdcuwon wrote

Replying to sarcasticlhath (#2,316,429)

I'd argue it's not LED lights, but dealers taking advantage of gullible people, or people not knowing any better.

I have ridiculously bright headlights, but I have my lights pointed down. I forget where I read that the beam must fall 2.5" over 20', but on the highway, I can see new Corollas with their low beam pattern aimed up several degrees. I can already imagine a scummy salesman claiming "Look how bright our headlights are! Better visibility for your safety!”

Of course, there are trucks with their headlight lenses a whole 5 feet off the ground. Screw them, because even with properly aimed headlight beams, my rearview mirror is still in the path, so my entire cabin looks like it's daytime...

13

tacknosaddle t1_jdcvoyv wrote

Replying to lisa_williams_wgbh (#2,316,128)

There are also people who get aftermarket lights for their cars but don't adjust the aim correctly so it has the same effect as brights on 24/7 when from the driver's seat they think it is just normal headlights. This is exponentially more likely in cars that have been modded with fancy rims, a spoiler, soda can muffler or anything associated with drifting.

5

470vinyl t1_jdcw5ld wrote

Wish we just had adaptive headlights like Europe. We’re stuck in the past.

2

RhaenyrasUncle t1_jdcw6vm wrote

Replying to VicVinegar88 (#2,316,509)

The automatic headlights thing is the issue.

Before, you always had to manually turn your headlights on. So if it was dark or raining, you naturally did it.

Nowadays, with automatic headlights, people forget. If there lights are set to "off", and it gets dark out, they dont even think to turn them on (until they hit a dark stretch of highway and panic brake/swerve before turning their lights on).

3

RhaenyrasUncle t1_jdcwhle wrote

Replying to eeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkie (#2,316,268)

This is why I love driving a SUV with LED headlights...everyone who has their high beams on gets blasted by my highbeams until they turn theirs off.

Sometimes you can tell they'll try to flash their highbeams at me because mine are intentionally on...only to then realize that they're the issue. 😅

−16

RhaenyrasUncle t1_jdcxafm wrote

Replying to Borner791 (#2,316,519)

We dont penalize anything that is a passive offense, here.

You run a red light at 15mph under the speed limit, 15 seconds after it turned red? Passive offense...non-issue.

You merge onto a free-flowing middle-of-day highway in a 65mph zone, at 22mph? Passive offense, non-issue.

You come to a complete stop in the right lane because you missed your exit? Passive offense, non-issue.

You stop in a rotary to be a "nice guy" and let multiple cars enter, thus causing gridlock behind you? Passive offense, non-issue.

Anything that falls under the, "Oopsies" category goes unpunished because it is, "an accident". We simply do not punish drivers who are involved in incidents like these.

4

MojoFilter111isThree t1_jdcxzeh wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,318,158)

Eastern MA has an incredibly high density of whitetail. 30-50 per sq mi compared to 10-20 in central & western MA. Higher density in eastern MA than upstate NY and northern ME. Eastern MA has some of the highest density of deer in New England and doesn’t get significantly higher westward until about Michigan.

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kajana141 t1_jdcy0dj wrote

I disagree. Having the extra light, especially on the narrow, tree lined roads in my town is very helpful.

−3

oogaboogaaa2 t1_jdcyusv wrote

Why the fuck aren’t headlights regulated? My eyes are burning.

11

CheruthCutestory t1_jdcz4hw wrote

Some people might not even be using their high beams. Headlights have gotten brighter.

5

pigeononapear t1_jdczd8r wrote

Replying to NoMoLerking (#2,316,668)

Yeah, my car’s a 2019 model and I constantly have people flashing at me because they think my brights are on. They’re not. They’re my regular lights, sorry if they’re brighter than normal, but I’m not driving in the dim/dark with no lights because that’s also a problem!

−9

hermitess t1_jdczfhj wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,318,142)

I can only speak to my area, but there are many dark/unlit "literal woods" roads in Hopkinton, Ashland, Holliston, Dover, Sherborn, Medfield, Millis, Norfolk, Wrentham & Plainville. All of those are within 495, so I don't know if I'd say "very very few" places.

15

walterbernardjr t1_jdd42va wrote

High beams are pretty useful in the dark and curvy roads off Rt 2 in Sudbury / concord

5

Nebuli2 t1_jdd4e7u wrote

Replying to BsFan (#2,316,105)

So many drivers around here also don't seem to realize that having your high beams on while behind another car is also bad. Do they not get that the high beams are reflected in the other driver's mirrors?

36

closerocks t1_jdd4tul wrote

Replying to BsFan (#2,316,105)

Yeah I was going to point out that the OP was probably a city person. There are lots of dark roads inside of 495 especially at 2 AM.

For the longest time, I never used high beams except in very low traffic situations because I forget that thereon. That faint blue indicator isn't really helpful. My current car has auto high beams which so far has never failed to shut off when there's a hint of a car in front of me.

If I have this feature in a 2017 Chevy, most modern cars probably have as well but I bet the operators of said vehicles don't know how to use these features.

13

NEU_Throwaway1 t1_jdd7ikt wrote

The biggest offenders I see are usually cars with Uber or Lyft stickers in the windshield. I asked my driver once why he was driving through Boston city streets with his high beams on and his reply was "It's brighter."

2

Jusmon1108 t1_jddagnb wrote

Not true inside 128. Belmont, Lexington and Winchester all have some dark winding roads that are safer to travel with high beams. Inside 495 you’re completely wrong.

4

Anthropomorphotic t1_jddajyi wrote

The Atlantic featured an article not too long ago about today's cars and their headlight problem.

IIRC, it's a combination of:

  • Brighter, whiter/bluer color tones

  • The height of cars/trucks has increased in recent years.

  • A large percentage of new cars come with at least one of the sides out of adjustment.

This creates a horrible glare experience for oncoming traffic.

I have a 2022 Highlander. I get people flashing their high beams at me constantly...and I've confirmed the lights are adjusted properly. It's a drag.

1

Tall_olive t1_jddbbu5 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,318,142)

>There are very few literal woods inside 495

Uh, you must never leave the city. Inside 495 has tons of farm land and winding wooded dark unlit roads. Hopkinton, Upton, Millis, Mendon, Sudbury, Holliston, Ashland, Wayland, (South) Natick, to name a few. You sound like you have no idea what you're talking about.

18

Jusmon1108 t1_jddd2j8 wrote

Replying to tsv1138 (#2,317,605)

Boston Public Works is the division that probably changed the lights but to get them altered/dimmed, you would most likely need to go through the Public Improvement Commission. My suggestion would be to find a contact for the commission, most likely a clerk or secretary, and ask them what process you would have to go through to get the lights changed. An offhand guess would be that you will need to create a petition, have as many people sign it from your street as you can and then get a hearing in front of the commission. I have worked with many different town commissions and can say from experience, Boston’s are some of the worst to deal with. I wish you luck as the process may be even more involved then my guess.

5

Charzarn t1_jddd8ml wrote

Replying to VicVinegar88 (#2,316,509)

This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Why would you not use the automatic headlights I never touch my lights.

It’s this older generation who grew up always turning them off. Truly annoying.

−2

Victor_Korchnoi t1_jddgiit wrote

My car (Chevy) has automatic high beams that turn on when the road is dark and it senses no other cars. I don’t know how to turn it off.

0

S4drobot t1_jddiuf3 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,317,818)

Where you went wrong is you should've said you don't need your brights on in thickly settled areas with streetlights. They're useful in the woods especially on roads that split huge sections of public lands.

8

AstroBuck t1_jddlnlh wrote

Replying to Present-Evidence-560 (#2,320,558)

No it's an old highway. 95 and 128 are the same highway for most of 128's length. In/near Peabody, the two diverge, with 95 going north to Canada, and 128 going northeast to Gloucester.

That stretch of highway that's 128 and 95 used to exclusively be 128 until, I think 1997. Signage for 128 has been replaced with signage for 95 over time so people older than a certain age often call that highway 128 and people under a certain age often call it 95.

2

transcengent420 t1_jddlowy wrote

I always felt like this until I had an issue with my glasses and had to use my high beams. Technically you are correct, but the thing about humans and things like vision is that each person is different and is having s completely different experience. What I had to also tell myself is there will never be a day when I don’t pass someone with high beams, so why get upset when I do. Also when I got my vision corrected other peoples high beams didn’t affect me as much

1

TerryPistachio t1_jddmmi2 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,318,158)

I grew up inside 495 and would see deer almost daily. I had 4 friends who have totaled cars hitting deer at night before we were 18. Grew up hunting deer.

It seems you have no idea what is inside 495

10

BikerHikerHorse t1_jddntia wrote

Replying to redtech42 (#2,317,953)

There really need to be better regulation and enforcement on this. Was driving home last night shortly after dark, already a very tricky time for night time vision and movement perception for most people, and just kept getting blinded by one car with insanely bright or incorrectly aimed beams or another one of those dumbass 6 foot tall "IM bIg BoY!" trucks that are in vogue right now after another. I was essentially blind on the road for a good chunk of it and if a kid ran out in front of me or something I am not certain I'd be able to stop or evade in time. It's ridiculous and there's seemingly nothing I can do about it other than buying a fucking lifted hummer.

Maybe my eyes are getting old, or I just didn't notice or care before but this seems like a thing that got way worse in the last 2-5 years.

20

HAETMACHENE t1_jddrv01 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,318,158)

Want a deer story?

I got a deer story.

I drive into work @2am.

Early pandemic my commute into Boston took me on rt 2 between 495 and 95.

One morning, taking flyby where the left turn at the light used to be, I ran through a fresh pool of blood and a mangled deer carcas on the side of the road.

A little less than a mile down was the Prius I am pretty sure hit it.

There are deer, especially in the more wooded areas.

Don't let your hate of highbeams blind you to the wildlife around you.

3

temp4adhd t1_jddslhx wrote

Here's a sub for you: r/FuckYourHeadlights

2

pigeononapear t1_jddxoyy wrote

Replying to anubus72 (#2,320,491)

I actually just got the car inspected yesterday and they didn’t raise any concerns about the headlights. If I bring it in for service in the future I’ll try to remember to ask if there’s a concern there.

2

CLS4L t1_jde4cz1 wrote

Electric and hybrid caright are bery bright in low beams setting.

1

FarDistance3468 t1_jde5n79 wrote

The headlights are so bright now you don’t need the high beams anywhere. I’m glad you can see 15 miles ahead of you but it’s no good when I’m blind coming towards you

3

Doortofreeside t1_jde9m3l wrote

Replying to lisa_williams_wgbh (#2,316,128)

Tbh I've started using my brights specifically because other cars' headlights blind me and I need every bit of clarity I can get and brights help me with that.

It sucks but when the majority of cars either have blinding lights or are pickups/sun's which also have blinding lights. I'm pretty certain that brights are substantially less bright than those two groups anyway

0

RhaenyrasUncle t1_jdeaqh2 wrote

Replying to Doortofreeside (#2,323,098)

Driving with one's highbeams on is very dangerous, as it can blind other drivers and cause accidents, as well as damage the eyes of other drivers.

It is important we all do our part to get highbeam drivers to turn their highs off.

−1

Warglebargle2077 t1_jdegq9h wrote

Fucking people doing this on well lit city streets going 15 in traffic.

2

SXTY82 t1_jdepmjy wrote

Yea? Ever drive 97 in or rt 1 in Topsfield

1

SXTY82 t1_jdeqagn wrote

Replying to sarcasticlhath (#2,316,429)

Kind of? It is with overly bright tail lights. The standard for how bright a light should be is stated in watts. That was fine for incandescent lights but watt is a description of power, not brightness. So when more efficient led lights came out they still needed to be a certain wattage and are too bright for purpose. Example my led lights in the house are 850 luminaries. They are approx equivalent to a 40w bulb. They only draw 8 watts.

2

CETROOP1990 t1_jdf0inn wrote

High beams are automatic on newer cars now

1

shr2016 t1_jdf2862 wrote

So fucking stupid. You know you can dim your high beams when needed, right? Jesus what the fuck is wrong with people

3

thspimpolds t1_jdfb124 wrote

I can’t wait for adaptive beam lights to start showing since they are now allowed, I live outside 495 and I’ll swear sometimes my cars lights aren’t even on.

You can even have you high beams on the even with a car in front, they just make a light hole around the car in front.

1

Fuzzy_Department_866 t1_jdfenm5 wrote

This is simply not correct. There are many parts of these highways where the Commonwealth has chosen to no longer illuminate with streetlights. Not having high beams on simply is not safe.

1

Charming_Rub3252 t1_jdftzae wrote

One thing I've noticed is that LED headlights, while brighter, have a sharper cutoff than halogen or HID. What this does is make some signs, especially those mounted higher, less visible from farther away.

While these signs reflect light very well, the light must reach it and LEDs simply don't spread enough unless the high beams are on.

Same is true to a lesser extent of trees and other objects that don't appear as visible despite the brighter LEDs. Halogen bulbs aren't as bright across the board but create a bigger "bubble" of visibility.

1

JaesinnP t1_jdfw70m wrote

I’m going to have to disagree. There are times when it’s early morning, foggy and dark where high beams are the only way you are going to see a foot in front of you!

2

closerocks t1_jdh4ahj wrote

Replying to FIFAFanboy2023 (#2,321,397)

understandable but no.... :-)

https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#9/42.4539/-71.6657

we need to turn off/down/shield nighttime lighting. In the context of high beams, it's like stationary high beams that will never turn off.

Broken record time: excessive nighttime lighting has done serious damage to core wildlife i.e Nocturnal animals and insects. There are also some strong indicators that excessive nighttime lighting affects human health and mental well-being.

It's not hard to control. Ideally, people would use Using dark-sky friendly lighting fixtures and motion-activated lighting. But quite frankly, it as simple as pointing light fixtures down and using lower-wattage, lower-color temperature bulbs.

0

datheffguy t1_jdh4m80 wrote

Replying to FourAM (#2,329,718)

Im assuming the downvotes are from people who feel dumb because they didn’t realize you could adjust them. In the vast majority of cars it takes no effort, the housing is easily accessible.

1

kajana141 t1_jdi0941 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,332,956)

The roads in my town are very narrow, with plenty of hills and corners. Plus most are closely lined with trees so it’s not an issue of learning the roads. Once you go a few towns west of 128, you run into this.

1