Government confirms it will go ahead with research into impact of headlight glare

The new Government has announced that they will launch an independent probe into drivers complaining of being dazzled by bright headlights.

In April, the Conservatives announced they would start an investigation – and Labour has now confirmed that it will go ahead immediately.

Lilian Greenwood, the new Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport, stated that the review would still be going ahead despite the change of power.

An RAC survey of 2,000 drivers from earlier this year found that a significant 89% believe at least some car headlights on the road today are too bright, with 28% – the highest proportion recorded – thinking that most headlights are overly bright.

Among those who complain about headlight brightness, 91% report being dazzled while driving, and 74% say this occurs regularly.

Regarding the effects of glare, two-thirds (67%) of affected drivers say they must slow down significantly until their vision clears, while a similar number (64%) believe some headlights are so bright they could cause accidents.

Notably, 5% of these drivers have nearly been involved in a collision due to headlight glare.

Alarmingly, nearly 7% find headlight glare so severe that they avoid driving at night altogether, a figure that rises to 14% for drivers aged 65 and over.

While the RAC has surveyed drivers on dazzling headlights since 2018, the latest findings indicate that more drivers than ever are experiencing this issue, with 85% of those affected believing the problem is worsening.

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Following confirmation that the Government will be commissioning research into the issue of headlight glare, the RAC is supporting the commitment as winter approaches.

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “We are delighted to see a commitment from the new Government that independent research into the issue of dazzling headlights is being commissioned, especially with darker evenings now on the way.

“We hope it leads to a better understanding of what is a complex problem, but one that is undoubtedly affecting drivers up and down the country – in fact, more drivers have contacted us with their concerns about this topic than any other in recent times.

“We’ve worked hard over a number of years to raise this topic on drivers’ behalf and now look forward to supporting the Department for Transport in this piece of work.”

Baroness Dianne Hayter said: “For anyone who suffers from headlight glare and wonders what is being done about it, this will be a very welcome announcement. We know some drivers have stopped driving at night, and we know concern about dazzle isn’t only felt by drivers in the UK but further afield as well.

“Getting to the bottom of these issues and deciding a way forward is extremely important.”