A new RAC study on motorists’ views of headlight glare has revealed that one in four drivers (25%) who found vehicle headlights too bright have reduced their nighttime driving, while 22% said they would if they could.
Of those affected by glare, six in 10 (61%) reported that the issue had worsened in the past year. The study also found that eight in 10 (79%) struggled to identify whether some vehicles were indicating, while 77% had difficulty judging the position of oncoming vehicles with bright headlights.
Additionally, 74% found it challenging to assess the speed of approaching vehicles and 67% struggled to determine their distance. These findings suggested dazzling headlights were significantly affecting motorists’ confidence on the road.
Impact on drivers’ lives
Among those who had reduced their nighttime driving, three-quarters (75%) linked this to intense headlights making the experience uncomfortable or more challenging. A further 49% attributed it to feeling less safe, while 5% had completely stopped driving at night.
The study revealed widespread concern about the brightness of headlights, with over a third (36%) believing that most headlights were too bright, with an additional 59% saying some of them were.
Younger drivers under 35 were more likely to say most headlights were too bright (41%), as were drivers of hatchbacks, estates and saloons.
For those still driving at night, nearly a fifth (17%) reported feeling tired and fatigued due to bright headlights, while 16% experienced headaches, migraines or eye pain.
When asked about headlight colour, 72% of those affected by glare associated the issue with white headlights, compared to just 3% who believed yellower ones were the issue of glare. One in 10 (11%) attributed the problem to both headlight colours, while 15% were unsure.
Unpacking the causes
The causes of headlight glare were complex, with factors such as misaligned headlights, advances in lighting technology and vehicle height differences all playing a role.
Official government statistics revealed that, since 2013, an average of 280 collisions a year have been linked to dazzling headlights, with six fatalities annually.
Following advocacy from the RAC, Baroness Hayter, the College of Optometrists and others, the government commissioned a project to investigate the causes of headlight glare and potential solutions. The results of this project were expected by summer 2025.
Advocates weigh in
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said it was undisputable that public concern about bright headlights was on the rise, but he added that the reasons for glare and what could be done to minimise it were not nearly as clear.
He observed that what was once a mere frustration was now having a profound impact on people – whether that was being momentarily blinded while driving or struggling to discern the speed or position of a vehicle ahead.
‘The fact such a high proportion of people are driving less at night – or wish they could – is remarkable and demonstrates the need for glare to be tackled,’ Dennis said.
‘Our research does suggest that the difference in height of vehicles affects how drivers perceive glare, as does the colour of headlights of oncoming traffic,’ he explained. ‘It also appears to be more of a problem on unlit roads, where drivers’ vision is subjected to greater levels of contrast.’
Dennis concluded: ‘We hope our findings prove to be valuable to both industry and government in understanding the effects dazzling headlights are having on drivers.
‘At the same time, we’re pleased to be able to dispel some myths around the topic, such as the one that headlight glare is something that affects only older drivers.’
Denise Voon, clinical adviser at the College, explained that more drivers were experiencing vision issues while driving at night, which was earlier than they would be expected to be impacted by age-related eye conditions like cataracts.
She added: ‘We look forward to the findings from the government’s headlight glare research project and hope this evidence enables the industry to find a solution that will reduce headlight glare and make driving at night safer for everyone.’
Road safety campaigner Baroness Dianne Hayter commented: ‘As this detailed study shows, virtually every driver experiences the problem of over-bright headlights, and many find the dazzle sufficiently problematic to stop or reduce their driving at night, with real social and other costs.
‘The RAC has produced the evidence, now the government needs to take action – whether on the colour, intensity or angle of these glaring lights.’
