This is a subject we have covered before, but it does seem to be a pertinent issue for drivers and riders, and one of some concern, particularly now that the gloomy evenings are upon us and the nights are drawing in.
The government, in response to concerns from a high percentage of drivers, have commissioned a report into this issue, and the findings are about to be published. It will be interesting to see what they say and if legislation will follow to help dazzled drivers and riders with this problem. 

Razzle Dazzle

The issue is that the main lights fitted to vehicles can dazzle oncoming traffic, especially at night. This means that many drivers no longer feel confident to drive at night, as they are worried about being temporarily blinded, and therefore unable to see properly in the dark. Many self-dipping headlights also don't dip in time, and don't react to oncoming headlights quickly enough, and so dazzle oncoming riders or drivers before they dip.

Some research from February 2025 said that most drivers who were asked in the survey found at least some car headlights too bright. This could be from dipped headlights and/or headlights which are on full beam.

And this problem doesn't seem to be improving, as six in ten drivers of the 61% surveyed in 2024, think that the problem has got worse in the last year.

Probably one part of the problem is that most car headlights are now LED, rather than halogen like their predecessors. LED lights sound like a good idea on paper as they are much brighter than Halogen lights, giving off a stonking 200 lumens of light, rather than the 24 which come from the traditional halogens. So you can see why motorcycle and car manufacturers have adopted them, as it would seem logical, in order to illuminate the dark night roads more effectively. LED lights also emit a much more blue/white light which mimics natural daylight, rather than the warmer more orangey light from old school halogen bulbs. Finally the actual beam from an LED light is much more direct rather than scattered, so aims more directly for the oncoming traffic, hitting the eyes of the rider or driver with a beam.

So modern riders and drivers are reporting that headlight glare is making their night time journeys far more uncomfortable and difficult. But there are also more serious consequences as half of the drivers in the survey reported that they are sometimes temporarily blinded while driving. Anyone can imagine how dangerous that is for all road users. In fact four out of ten road users say that they feel less safe driving now, as a result of being dazzled when on the road at night, and a percentage complain of headaches, migraines and tiredness after driving in the dark.

In fact 5% say that they have stopped driving at night altogether as they cannot cope with the brightness of other drivers'/riders' headlights.

 

The Highway Code actually has this covered, stating that drivers must not:
* use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
* use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You must switch them off when visibility improves, to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).

The alignment of the Headlights is something which is examined at the MOT every year, but it is notoriously difficult to check accurately and many testing stations are believed to perhaps assess this incorrectly.

 

So given all the information, how many accidents are documented as being caused by dazzling headlights according to the RAC?
Well since 2014, the average annual accident rate caused by headlight dazzle is 263, including five fatalities. That's quite a lot, and are only the ones which can be verified by police traffic officers at the scene, there could be a lot more which are just hard to prove and verify.

Plus this is only actual proven collisions, there could well be more and there is genuinely a problem if a proportion of drivers feel unsafe driving in the dark or avoid it altogether due to headlight dazzle.

 

This is not apparently a uniquely UK problem either, there are reports of the same issue from Europe and many road users on the continent suffering from the same dazzle problem. International standards on headlights are discussed at the UN Economic Commission for Europe, the UNECE which includes the UK, and a Task Force has been set up to address this issue, as it would seem that something needs to change.

The RAC has been investigating this issue since 2018 and has commissioned research to look into the problem. It has contacted the College of Optometrists and IAM RoadSmart to garner their opinions on this issue to add to the available research.

 

The RAC's senior policy officer Rod Dennis said:
“with the exception of potholes, few motoring topics seem to raise as much interest among the nation's drivers right now as bright headlights. It is indisputable that public concern is increasing, but the reasons for glare and what can be done to reduce it aren't nearly as clear.”

 

* Keep your windscreen clean and free of smudges.
* Keep your glasses clean and free of smudges.
* Keep up to date with eye tests and wear your prescription glasses for driving if you need them.
* When presented with bright oncoming headlights, keep your eyes open and briefly look to the curb or side of the road until you can see clearly again. This will keep you safe and minimise the discomfort of glare.
* Be a considerate driver and dip your headlights when required. If you have self dipping headlights, be aware that they don't always pick up oncoming cars, cyclists and pedestrians, so make sure you know how to dip them yourself if required

 

Strange but true – you may not even know that you could be part of the problem. You could inadvertantly be dazzling oncoming cars with your headlights.
To try and mitigate this, make sure that your headlights are properly adjusted so that they don't shine directly into peoples' eyes so that you can make sure that you are not blinding oncoming traffic as this is just dangerous for everyone on the roads.

 

Are bright headlights a problem for you when driving at night? Do you find yourself dazzled or do you avoid driving at night whenever you can as it is difficult to see properly. Let us know your thoughts at [email protected] or on Facebook.