Major changes could be coming to roads in the UK as the Government is continuing to look at how to tackle the issue of “dazzling” headlights. Officials are considering altering headlight standards and clamping down on illegal sales of overly powerful bulbs.
This comes as a new RAC survey found that more than a quarter of drivers say bright headlights made them nervous of driving in the dark.
Part of the problem lies with LED (light emitting diode) headlights, which are considerably more luminous than conventional halogen bulbs.
The situation is exacerbated if the headlights are not correctly aligned, and with the growing trend of higher vehicles such as SUVs, which can aim the light beam directly into the eyes of drivers in smaller cars.
To address this issue, cars with unsuitable headlight bulbs will not pass the MOT, and sellers of illegal bulbs could face a £1,000 fine. A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: “We know headlight glare is frustrating for many drivers, especially as the evenings get darker.
“That’s why we commissioned independent research to better understand the causes and impact of glare, which will inform new measures in the upcoming road safety strategy. Alongside this, DVSA has stepped up surveillance to intercept the sale of illegal retrofit headlamp bulbs for on-road use, and anyone caught could face a fine of up to £1,000.”
The DfT maintains records of incidents where police have cited "dazzling headlights" as a contributing element to roadway accidents. Over 10 years, statistics indicate that the most accident-prone year was 2013 with 369 collisions, while the count dipped to its lowest in 2020 at 196, affected by the Covid restrictions.
A previous study by the RAC in December 2023 revealed that 85% of motorists hold the opinion that the issue of dazzling headlights is escalating. The poll, involving 2,000 drivers, discovered that 89 percent believe at least some car headlights are "too bright", within which 28 percent consider "most are".
Amongst those affected by bright headlights, 91% said they felt "dazzled" behind the wheel, with 74% facing it "regularly". Moreover, 64% said they feared bright lights could lead to accidents.
Five per cent of these people disclosed near misses due to headlight glare. Another seven per cent admitted the glare was so severe they avoided nocturnal driving, and this figure jumps to 14% among drivers aged 65 and above.
Rod Dennis, the senior policy officer at the RAC, commented: “Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort.
“While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling. At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead – so there’s a balance to be struck.”
The issue is set to be addressed in a new road safety strategy from the Government before the end of the year. Relevant amendments to international vehicle lighting regulations overseen by the United Nations will then be proposed.
