Blinding headlights make nighttime driving genuinely dangerous, but the viral claims about factory settings getting deliberately cranked too high tell only part of the story. Social media has been buzzing with assertions that dealerships send cars home with headlights aimed above safe specs, but here’s what safety data actually reveals.
The Viral Claims vs. Safety Reality
Those shocking statistics about factory headlight aiming have zero backing from authoritative sources.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety puts it bluntly: “Although excessive glare from other vehicles’ headlights is a common concern, there is no evidence that glare by itself leads to crashes.” That’s a direct contradiction to viral claims linking misaimed headlights to collision spikes.
NHTSA data shows only 0.3% of fatal nighttime crashes list glare as a contributing factor. The dramatic collision increase figures floating around don’t appear in any federal safety research. Meanwhile, IIHS testing reveals massive improvement in headlight glare ratings—from 21% of systems rated excessive in 2017 to just 3% in 2025 model year vehicles.
The Real Headlight Problem
Misaligned beams are a legitimate maintenance issue, but it’s not a factory conspiracy.
NHTSA research found that “the majority of new cars measured had both headlamps aimed properly” straight from dealers. The real culprit? Time and use. Headlight aim drifts as suspension components settle, cargo loads shift your vehicle’s stance, and minor impacts knock things out of alignment.
Think of it like your phone’s autocorrect—it starts fine but gets wonky without occasional recalibration. One study found mis-aim issues in the majority of used vehicles tested, while factory-fresh cars generally hit their marks.
DIY Headlight Alignment That Actually Works
Proper aiming takes 15 minutes and requires nothing fancier than a wall and tape measure.
- Park 25-30 feet from a flat wall on level ground
- Mark your headlight center heights on the wall
- Adjust so the brightest beam portion sits 2 inches below those marks
Most modern vehicles include interior height adjustment controls—check your owner’s manual before diving into the headlight housing screws.
The payoff is immediate: better road illumination for you, less glare assault on oncoming drivers.
Proper headlight aim won’t single-handedly solve nighttime driving hazards, but it’s routine maintenance as essential as checking tire pressure. Skip the viral panic and focus on the simple fix that actually works. For other DIY car fixes you can handle at home, regular maintenance keeps your vehicle running safely and efficiently.
