There are different levels of "adjusting to the dark." The eye can successfully view a somewhat limited dynamic range -- for a given intensity of distance lighting, having a more intense light in the foreground can reduce visibility distance, as well as reducing contrast.

It's not uncommon to for a person to come inside on a bright summer day and have it take several minutes to be able to see well in lighting that is still bright enough that you're using full-color vision. This is not "night vision" using the rods, just adjusting from more intense lighting that has lowered the sensitivity of the cones.

NHTSA has actually sponsored some excellent research on the impact of lighting and glare on driving, it's one of their most active areas for consumer complaints and a recognized contributor to many accidents.