Four reasons why drivers are dazzled by headlights more than ever – as ministers launch official probe into the problem

Ministers have confirmed they will launch a review into the rise in motorists being dazzled by headlights after nine in 10 complained they’ve become too bright and up to a third have quit driving at night over fears of being temporarily blinded and crashing.

The move by the Government follows a campaign by the RAC and petition signed by more than 11,900 people who are concerned about the dangers headlight glare is causing for road users.

With the Department for Transport (DfT) promising a probe into the growing issue, we take a closer look at the four main contributing factors for why dazzling is becoming a more prominent problem.

1. Brighter LED lights replacing ‘yellower’ halogen bulbs

Some 87 per cent of the 2,000 drivers polled by the RAC earlier this year as part of its annual report into dazzling think it is becoming an increasing issue because headlights are simply getting brighter.

This is a result of the increasing prevalence of modern cars featuring LED (Light Emitting Diode) headlights.

In recent years, they have completely replaced the traditional ‘yellower’ halogen bulbs in the latest new cars.

Arguably the biggest contributor to the rise in dazzling is the switch to brighter LED headlights instead of halogen bulbs. The former are often whiter and more likely to temporarily blind oncoming motorists, while the latter are yellower and less likely to cause glare

LEDs produce a whiter – or sometimes bluish – beam. They also last longer, use less power and are usually smaller than halogen bulbs, which enables vehicle manufacturers more flexibility when it comes to designing cars and vans. 

LED lights provide a more intense and focused beam that is great for improving a driver’s view by illuminating more of the road.

However, the human eye reacts to this light differently than to a halogen beam.

This is why drivers often complain of being partially blinded by their brightness.

Cheap aftermarket LED bulbs sold online are also contributing to the problem. Only bulbs marked with an ‘E’ are deemed legal in Britain, though it is hard to police when illegal products are used

2. Cheap LED aftermarket bulbs

One other cause of the rise in dazzling on the road is the use of sub-standard LED bulbs that can be purchased online.

Cheap replacements – especially those advertised to replace halogen bulbs in older cars – can be dangerously bright or produce the wrong beam pattern, both of which can temporarily blind oncoming motorists.

Only bulbs with an ‘E’ mark are deemed legal in Britain, but aftermarket LED upgrades cannot be issued one of these certified marks. This is because no legislation currently exists for the use of LED technology in a headlight unit built for halogens.

However, this is difficult to police. 

Even MOT testers are not required to check if a bulb is ‘E’ marked, which is due to the time-consuming nature of having to access the item by removing the headlight cluster, which in some models can be a painstaking process.

This is why it is always recommended to purchase replacement bulbs from your car from reputable manufacturers, such as Osram and Philips.

3. Drivers failing to adjust their lights correctly

More than two in five of the 2,000 motorists polled by the RAC in January think the rise in dazzling is caused by motorists failing to align their headlight correctly.

A Freedom of Information request submitted to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in November 2023 shows that since 2019, an average of 1.6million, or 5 per cent, of cars failed their MOTs due to poor headlight aim.

What’s more, with the DVSA stating in 2016 that ‘headlamp aim consistently tops the MOT compliance survey as one of the most likely items to be assessed incorrectly by testers’, the actual figure could be much higher.

The RAC also believes the increase in the number of high-riding SUVs on the road is increasing cases of drivers dazzled

4. Increasing popularity of SUVs

The rise in sales of SUVs is also a contributing factor in the increase in risk of being dazzled at night, according to respondents to the RAC report in January and a separate survey of 12,000 drivers by the AA a month later.

Because SUVs are raised higher up than most traditional cars, their lights are positioned higher than that of a conventional hatchback or saloon.

It means those driving non-SUV models are at risk of having the headlights of these jacked-up family cars shining directly into their face.

Three in five (62 per cent) of RAC members who drive non-SUV models blame the spike in dazzling on higher vehicles, whereas only a third (35 per cent) of those who own an SUV believed they were causing an increase in this particular gripe.

Now we know the causes, here’s seven ways to limit the impact of glare – and prevent dazzling others 

1. Slow down at night

If the glare from an oncoming vehicle at night is so bad that you temporarily can’t see anything, you should slow down to reduce the risk of the impact on your impaired visibility.

However, avoid slowing or stopping abruptly as you don’t want a car that is travelling behind you running into the back of you. 

2. Don’t look directly at oncoming headlights

To prevent yourself from being dazzled, never look directly at the headlights of other cars.

Look to the left-hand side of the road and follow the white line marking the edge if there is one, so you can keep track of your position, the RAC recommends. 

3. Make sure your windscreen is clear 

Windscreens are particularly susceptible to steaming up on the inside, especially in cold weather, while car heaters can blow dirty air at the glass, causing a hazy film to build up on the inside. 

This can increase glare from oncoming headlamps, so ensure yours is clean and clear.

4. Adjust your rear-view mirror 

Drivers at night should dip the rear-view mirror to reduce the risk of being dazzled by motorists following them.

Many new motors in showrooms today have an auto-dimming rear-view mirror function. If your car doesn’t then you should be dipping the mirror manually.

5. Consider anti-glare glasses

If being dazzled by other drivers’ headlights or street lighting is an issue, motorists should consider anti-glare glasses when driving at night.

These are not simply glasses with yellow tints, which can help reduce glare by also make darker areas of the road less visible and are therefore not recommended.

Specsavers has a product called SuperDrive lenses for varifocal wearers, while all of its glasses can be fitted with a clear ‘SuperClean Smart’ treatment, which is specially designed to help reduce reflections and dazzle caused by oncoming headlights and street lighting — helping you have a safer journey. 

Motorists suffering from glare at night should consult with their optician. 

6. Use low beams where possible to safeguard other drivers

Use your low-beam headlights instead of high beams when driving in well-lit areas or when approaching other vehicles as high beams can significantly increase glare.

7. Regularly adjust your headlights

Ensure that your headlights are correctly aimed, especially if you are often travelling with heavy loads, which can impact the height of your lights beam. 

Misaligned headlights not only contribute to blinding other drivers but will also reduce your own visibility.

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What the Government has said about investigating dazzling issue 

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that more drivers are being troubled by the brightness of other vehicles’ headlights, raising concerns about safety.

As such, it has been the subject of an extensive campaign by motoring groups.

The RAC’s annual headlight dazzling report on the subject found that 85 per cent of drivers have been partially blinded by the glare of bright car lights and believe the problem is worsening.

Of 2,000 UK licence holders quizzed by the motoring group, 89 per cent think at least some headlights fitted to vehicles are too bright, of which three in 10 – a higher proportion than ever – think most are. 

The Government has committed to launching its own independent review of brighter headlights to understand why more drivers are being dazzled on the road – and, importantly, how to tackle the issue 

In February, a similar study by the AA found that three quarters of motorists often feel temporarily blinded behind the wheel after being dazzled by other vehicles’ headlights.

Some 76 per cent of 12,100 licence holders polled said they are often impaired by oncoming car lights, while half (52 per cent) struggle to see due to the glare from motors following behind that reflects in their rear-view mirror at night.

This has led to calls for a review of brighter headlights via a parliamentary petition submitted by a member of the public on 15 January, which has (at the time of publishing) received almost 12,000 signatures.

The DfT said the Government recognises there is a ‘need for further evidence’ as it promised an independent probe into headlight dazzling ‘shortly’.

Blinded by the lights: Three in four drivers say they are often dazzled by the headlights of other vehicles on the road, a recent report found

The department added that it is well aware that more people are raising concerns about the intensity of headlight glare but caveated the point by stating that police collision statistics ‘don’t show any underlying road safety issue’.

With that said, official figures show that since 2013 there have been an average of 280 collisions on Britain’s roads a year where dazzling headlights were a contributory factor.

Of these, six per annum involved someone losing their life.

The Government department continued: ‘Because of that lack of evidence, the Department for Transport raised the issue at the United Nations international expert group on vehicle lighting. 

‘Proposals to amend headlamp aiming rules were agreed in April 2023, together with requirements for mandatory automatic headlamp levelling which automatically corrects the aim of the headlamps based on the loading of the vehicle e.g. when passengers are sat on the back seat or there is luggage in the boot.

‘The transitional provisions permit sufficient time for vehicle manufacturers to redesign their products and adapt the manufacturing process, with the tighter tolerances expected to come into effect in September 2027.

‘Once implemented, these tougher requirements will help alleviate the number of cases where road users are dazzled.

‘In addition, the DfT also plans to commission independent research to better understand the root causes of driver glare and identify any further appropriate mitigations.’

The RAC has long been campaigning for more to be done to tackle headlight dazzling, which has become an increasing issue in recent years due to the advent of new tech and the popularity of higher-riding vehicles

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis described the commitment to investigate dazzling as a ‘real turning point’. 

He said: ‘The topic has undoubtedly struck a chord with motorists up and down the country, with many people contacting us directly to call for something to be done.

‘Brighter headlights, while giving drivers a better view of the road ahead, are clearly causing other road users significant problems.’

Baroness Hayter said the Government’s fresh commitment to undertake research into the issue is a ‘victory for all those drivers affected by glare who’ve complained to their MP, signed the parliamentary petition, or indeed sought help from an optometrist – only to discover the problem was with headlights, and not their eyes’.

What the RAC’s headlight-dazzling report found 

The RAC at the end of 2023 polled 2,000 UK licence holders about headlight glare and the impact it has on them. 

Of all the drivers who complained about the brightness of car headlights, some 91 per cent say they have been dazzled when driving in the last 12 months.

Meanwhile, three quarters said they are partially blinded by other vehicles on a regular occasion.

The issue has become so bad in recent years that two in three of the panel said they have to slow down considerably after suffering from glare from another car’s headlights – and can’t pick up speed again until a few moments later when they can see clearly.

And 68 per cent said they are unable to see clearly again for between one and five seconds, and a further one in 10 said it takes six or more seconds to get recover their full vision.

Worryingly, only momentarily losing full visibility for such a duration is enough for a driver travelling at 60mph to cover 160 metres – which is the equivalent of 40 cars lengths – without being able to see properly.

More than three in five drivers say it has reached such problematic levels that dazzling is becoming a cause of accidents.

In fact, five per cent of these drivers told the RAC they have nearly been involved in a collision themselves as a result of having their eyesight temporarily compromised by bright headlights.

Alarmingly, 7 per cent said they find headlight glare so bad on the roads today that they avoid driving at night altogether, a figure that rises to 14 per cent for drivers aged 65 and over.

Having annually researched and published reports on the number of motorists suffering from dazzling on the road since 2018, the RAC says there is plenty of evidence to show this is becoming a growing concern. 

Separate research by IAM RoadSmart shared with This is Money suggests one-in-three of its members had either reduced their night-time driving or even stopped altogether because they can no longer cope with being partially blinded by the lights of other vehicles.

The rising cases of drivers reporting being dazzled in recent years means this is a ‘major road safety issue’ as well as having a ‘knock-on impact on the nighttime economy’, the road safety charity said.

Older drivers are more likely to be dazzled by headlights 

Mike Bowen from the College of Optometrists warns that older drivers are more susceptible to being dazzled on the road

Mike Bowen, director of knowledge and research at the College of Optometrists, warns that older drivers are more susceptible to being dazzled on the road.

‘The results from this research by the RAC are helpful to inform our understanding of how changes in vehicle headlight technologies may be affecting both the functional vision of young and older drivers, and their visual comfort, when driving at night,’ he said.

‘Older drivers are likely to be disproportionately affected by headlight glare, so may be more likely to experience difficulties or to decide not to drive at night at all.

‘We urge the Government to commission more technical and clinical research to have a better understanding of this issue and what should be done to ease the effects of dazzling headlights.’

John Kushnick, legal operations director at National Accident Helpline told This is Money that dazzling bright headlights can pose ‘significant road safety risks for drivers, affecting their visibility and potentially leading to accidents’ and urged motorists to report vehicles with blinding lights to the police.

He advised: ‘It’s crucial for drivers to remain vigilant on the roads and stay aware of the potential hazards caused by dazzling headlights and take proactive measures to mitigate the risks. 

‘Additionally, road safety authorities and vehicle manufacturers play a role in establishing and enforcing regulations to ensure that vehicle lighting systems adhere to safety standards.

‘It’s important for drivers to remember to play it safe if you cannot see due to the bright headlights; slow down, avoid all challenging manoeuvres, and do not pull out of a side road.’

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