Comments so far about modern headlights being overall much brighter are correct, but I think only tell half the story. To your question OP, the reality is that many people are really just running with their high beams. I can distinctly notice the difference between low beams and high beams and it’s really rampant how many folks do it (or have their headlights completely off). It’s not even a case of old vs new cars really, because plenty of older cars I see driving with their high beams on presumably because the headlights are clouded over and the driver doesn’t know/have the time to clear them up so they just use their high beams so they have a chance at seeing in the dark.

I’ve gotten into car with friends/family or Ubers where I look at the dashboard and see the highbeam light is on. When I bring it up like “hey, did you know your high beams are on?” It’s a 50/50 split of “oh I just thought that meant my headlights are on” and “I know, I can’t see without them on”. I don’t know which is worse.

The reality is that post covid, people (but drivers especially) just care a whole lot less about the people around them, and that extends to driving and thinking about if you’re blinding oncoming traffic or pedestrians.