I've never had any problems ....looking directly into them may hurt your eyes from a distance, but I've seen my car from another car (someone else was driving it ;o)).......and it didn't seem to be too bright at all.

the reason high beams blind drivers typically is just because the beam patern is aimed more up. Stock beam pattern on the low side would allow you to run just about any brigthness without blinding other drivers - assuming the car was set correctly before.

- Nathan