Dazzling headlights are “unsafe” and making roads a more dangerous place, according to motorists who say older people are bearing the brunt of the problem.
Brighter LED headlights have become an increasingly common problem for motorists in recent years, with millions of drivers believed to view them as an issue.
LED headlights are more common in newer vehicles and are often more concentrated and brighter than older, yellow halogen bulbs.
The rise of headlight dazzling instances has also been attributed to the growth of SUV sales. Given that the vehicles are taller and larger, the beam of light shines in the vision of drivers behind the wheel of smaller vehicles.
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Road safety experts have previously called for action to be taken to crack down on dazzling headlights
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Recent research found that 85 per cent of drivers report being affected by headlight glare on British roads. A further 90 per cent of people said most car headlights were too bright.
The RAC data also uncovered that more than a quarter of drivers believe “the majority” of vehicles on the road have headlights that are distracting for other road users.
Radio host Daire Ní Chanáin asked motoring expert Maria McCarthy about the issue with LED headlights, which she described as “absolutely blinding” and “unsafe”.
McCarthy said it was difficult to cope with the problem since so many new vehicles are fitted with them, especially as they become more common.
She added: “I hate them. I hate them. No, I agree, totally. I think there is some pushback against them and I find them very, very difficult to cope with myself.
“I thought it was just my eyes because as you get older, it’s acknowledged that older people’s recovery from being dazzled is longer than younger people.
“So if you’re finding them hard as a young person, then those of us who are no longer in our first youth, we’re having a really rough time with them.”
Daire Ní Chanáin, who was hosting the 20 Minutes with Mark Patterson show on BBC Radio Foyle, agreed with McCarthy, saying that the scourge of bright headlights was “awful”.
In January 2024, the RAC and other motoring organisations called on the Government to take action against the potentially hazardous car feature.
The Department for Transport has commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to conduct an investigation into headlight glare which will measure light levels experienced by drivers in real-world conditions.
It is expected that the analysis will help research assess how various factors including other vehicles, weather conditions and ambient lighting affect the visibility of drivers.
The project is expected to run until Spring 2025 and will help form the basis of recommendations for the Department for Transport to potentially enshrine in law.
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Newer LED bulbs tend to be far brighter than traditional, yellow halogen bulbs
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According to The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, there is no requirement for the size of the illuminated areas or how intense the light must be.
Headlights must be white or yellow, have an approval mark or a British standard mark and must be a minimum of 30 watts if the vehicle was first used before April 1, 1986.
