Actually, it lights up everything. The road in front of you, the signs overhead, etc. I have HID bulbs in my accord (got them before retrofits became a fad....everyone was dropping in HID bulbs at the time). Yes, they are blinding if an oncoming driver likes the pretty color and stares. The entire road is lit up...it's like daylight.

In my TSX, we have HID's with a cut-off. I actually get sleepy since only the road is lit. I can't see anything at all unless it's lying on the road in front of me. I can't see far off in the distance, or read overhead signs, or people up ahead on the sidewalk. It took me a month to get used to being able to see only less than 40% of what's in front of me.

In my accord, everything is lit...I see everything in front of me. I'm fully awake because I'm processing everything (people, signs, etc.)

With my TSX, I can't even read signs until I'm practically below it (since they're not lighted and depend on reflecting light back to me....my lights can't light them up).

If I have to drive in a dark area, I'd rather drive my accord. If I'm on a 2-lane road with no median though, I'd do the TSX so the oncoming driver won't be blinded and hit me =P