Headlight glare research given go ahead

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Wed, 11 Sept 2024

The government will commission independent research into the dangers of glare from ultra-bright car headlights.

In response to a question from Conservative MP Greg Smith, Minister for the Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood confirmed the Department for Transport plans to fund research into the potential safety implications of headlight glare.

The government is "in the process of commissioning independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare and help identify potential countermeasures," she stated.

The news follows an earlier commitment from the previous government to investigate the issue of headlight glare.

Earlier this year, the dangers of ultra-bright headlights hit the headlights following the publication of a new report, provocatively titled ‘Modern vehicle headlights dazzle drivers and may compromise road safety’.

It was produced by a group of experts and chaired by Baroness Hayter.

In response to the news, Baroness Hayter said that anyone who suffers from headlight glare will find it a very welcome announcement.

"We know some drivers have stopped driving at night. Getting to the bottom of these issues and deciding a way forward is extremely important," she says.

The RAC, which also contributed to the report, echoed Baroness Hayter in the new Government’s commitment. It says more drivers have contacted it with 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," says RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis.

The news, he added, was particularly welcome with darker evenings on the way.

Ask HJ

Why are people using headlights during the daytime?

Why is there a plague of car drivers driving in good daytime viability using full headlights? This habit is a minor irritation with old fashioned headlights but is a massive issue with the dazzling potential of xenon and LED systems.

There is no law against using your headlights in daylight - assuming they are not dazzling other drivers of course - in fact a European study concluded that using dipped headlights at all times can reduce the chances of being involved in a collision by as much as 30%. However, incorrectly adjusted headlights can be a significant distraction particularly with higher-powered LED arrangements. Drivers may be using the automatic setting on headlights which is causing them to be illuminated more frequently, or may not even be aware that they are switched on as the majority of cars will automatically turn off headlights when the vehicle is switched off. Unfortunately it is down to the individual to ensure their lights are correctly aligned.

Answered by David Ross

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