POLL: Have car headlights got too bright?
An increasing number of frustrated Brits are urging the Government to ban a certain type of car headlight that could result in more accidents on the road.
Drivers have been left divided over whether a certain kind of headlight that is growing in popularity on new models should be banned.
After a growing number of calls from drivers and pedestrians alike, the Government has commissioned a study into how LED headlights, which are typically praised for offering better visibility and efficiency, cause glare to oncoming road users.
Rod Dennis, Senior Policy Officer for the RAC, welcomes the Government's decision, stating that the study comes at a time when more motorists are concerned over the headlights and their impact on road safety.
He explained: " With the exception of potholes, few motoring topics seem to rouse as much interest among the nation’s drivers right now as bright headlights. It’s undisputable that public concern is increasing, but the reasons for glare and what can be done to reduce it aren’t nearly as clear.
" That’s why we’re pleased the Government heeded the calls of the RAC and our partner organisations on this issue and commissioned an independent project to look into it. We’re aware other European countries are now taking the matter seriously, too."
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According to a survey of 1,866 drivers across the UK, a staggering 97 percent stated that they had previously been affected by some form of glare when behind the wheel, with the vast majority of cases having an impact on how they could use their vehicle.
79 percent of respondants said that the headlight glare made it difficult to see whether the offending vehicle was indicating, whereas 74 percent struggled to work out how fast they were travelling.
Some Brits taking part in the survey stated that LED headlights have changed how much they get behind the wheel. In particular, a quarter of drivers now travel less at night to prevent the risk of being dazzled, whereas five percent will only take to the roads before it gets dark.
Currently, drivers are banned from fitting LED headlights to a vehicle that was originally designed to use more convnetional halogen or xenon bulbs, with those that do failing their next MOT.
However, the law does not restrict drivers from using the lights if the vehicle was fitted with them in the first place, with many of the latest models featuring them as a way of saving energy.
Before announcing their investigation, a number of frustrated motorists created petitions which called for a ban on the headlights, with one recording more than 14,000 signatures in 2024.
Nevertheless, some studies have shown clear benefits for road users who are around vehicles with LED headlights.
According to some ophthalmologists, drivers who are dazzled by LED lights are often able to recover at a much quicker rate than those who encounter a bright set of halogen bulbs.
Nevertheless, the College of Optometrists recently warned that LED headlights fitted to larger and taller models, such as SUVs, could worsen cases of 'uncomfortable glare' for others on the road.
