I think that your lights are probably aimed incorrectly. If they're new halogen bulbs with nice bright white light, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to drive at night with them.
Every vehicle in my signature line has 12volt halogens (with the exception of the AD truck which is 6 volt and the '39 Packard which has pre-sealed beam technology).
I drive all of them at night whenever I have to without visibility problems.
Your 12volt halogen system shouldn't be any different than these.