I thought the same and then got a recent-ish car that had an "automatic" setting to dim or engage the high beams. It's terrible. Taking tight corners on a dark rural road, they dim because the sensor detects the car's own headlight reflection off of the trees, defeating the purpose.

So, I think a bunch of dipshit city folk leave the high beams on (in the city where they aren't fucking necessary) and let the "automatic" setting handle it, poorly.

I learned how to drive in a rural area where using the brights is normal when you get out of town, with the caveat that you have to pay attention and switch back when cresting a hill or coming around a corner.

Edit: "creating" -> "cresting"

doesn't matter when lowbeams are just as bright as high beams and aimed at somebody's face, though

Some people also don't know you can set your headlights to "auto" so you aren't driving at twilight with your headlights off.

This may be another case of needing technology to rescue people who are just that dumb.

• Auto-high beams have been getting better over the years to the point that humans can no longer claim to be more responsive. They just work. Every time. And never forget
• my car has active matrix headlights and it’s freaky to drive at night with the high beams on and watch a dark spot follow surrounding cars

In ten years we’ll all forget how to toggle off high beams, as it will just work most of the time. But at the same time we’ll be blinded less as the machine never forgets

I’ll take being briefly blinded as a car hits a pothole over ten terrifying seconds of zero visibility as a monstrous vehicle careens toward me and I have no idea where the street is or what’s in it