News & Features
Headlight Glare Investigation to Go Ahead
Posted in General News on Monday, September 16th, 2024
In April, the Conservatives announced they would launch an investigation into the worsening problem of headlight glare and Labour has now confirmed that it will go ahead despite the change of power.
The issue was further highlighted by the results of an RAC survey of 2,000 drivers from earlier this year. The survey revealed that 89% of the respondents believed that at least some car headlights on the road today are too bright, with 28% stating that most headlights are overly bright.
Among those who complain about headlight brightness, 91% said that they had been dazzled while driving, and 74% say this occurs regularly. When it comes to 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. Concerningly, 5% of these drivers have nearly been involved in a collision due to headlight glare. 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.
Following confirmation that the government will be commissioning research into the issue the RAC is supporting the commitment. 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.”
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Mark W
Tuesday, September, 17th, 2024
Great news! Sadly there is now a first generation of type approved 'adaptive' headlights that don't dip early enough or pulsate weirdly, and I bet the type approval process for lights is 'gamed' by manufacturers in a similar way to emissions.
Edmund Hobby
Monday, September, 23rd, 2024
The whole question of vehicle lighting needs tightening up. I am fortunate? That I have a Motabilit ysupplied Peugeot 2008 which has excellent auto dipping headlights. BUT not only the question of over bright and dazzling headlights should be attended to BUT the maintenance of lights in general. Week after week the same vehicles with offside headlights not working and whilst summer is not quite so problematical winter is. Out of alignment head lights does not help Many car owners resort to illegal headlights either by the size of the bulb or the unit. The Peugeot has LED lights and I have never been flashed by oncoming traffic so presumably the lights are set up properly. This hoary chestnut has been around for a few years and the lack of Police attention to lighting faults does not help. Whilst not a cure but looking away from directly ahead does help a bit. That however does not help with the selfish so and so's behind. Main beam on into the rear view mirror. GOOD LUCK withh the survey
David
Monday, September, 23rd, 2024
I am convinced that many people are fitting illegal bulbs to their vehicles, you see some cars with piercingly bright headlamps. On eBay, there are many examples of high-power standard-fit H7 bulbs, for sale, not just from unknown manufacturers but also from the big names, with a power output far above the 55 watts allowed. There are also many kits on sale to fit Xennon and Led bulbs into headlamps not designed for these types, which then brings the possibility of incorrect beam focus and uncontrolled light spread into question.
Richard Carter
Monday, September, 23rd, 2024
I’m so glad to see this - I hate driving home from my Grandmas in the dark and she’s 25 miles away but because of her Alzheimer’s, I do need to go over and sometimes stay now until it is dark The motorway can be awful when it’s raining and I am dazzled. I’m so glad it’s not just me. I thought it was my eyes and my glasses were good enough or they were too good! Absolutely I am one of the people that does not drive in the dark, especially in rain if I can avoid it because I just get too stressed
David
Monday, September, 23rd, 2024
I frequently encounter vehicles with piercingly bright headlamps, when you peruse eBay you find that there are many examples of standard-fit H7 bulbs that have a power output much higher than the 55 watts allowed by law. Also on sale are conversion kits to fit both Xennon and Led bulbs into headlamps not designed for these bulbs, bringing into question the performance of these light units when operated with these conversion kits installed
Ken C
Monday, September, 23rd, 2024
This problem has been getting worse for years. My wife has a Mini and I have a Jaguar XF, which is by definition a big car, but it is normal height. Many of the new SUV type cars have significantly raised driving positions, hence the head lights are set higher than 'normal' cars, so that their headlights are at a level with the windows of a 'normal' car. Even when dipped, the beams are at a height where they are above the window levels of 'normal' cars. This, together with the modern brighter lights, leads to significantly increased dazzle. The owners probably don't reaiise that the lights are there to warn oncoming traffic that they are there, as well as to provide them with visual light in order to see the road. Decreasing the strength of the headlights would likely only lead to many motorists fitting up-rated bulbs to improve their vision, with no regard to the loss of vision they are causing oncoming motorists.
Andy
Monday, September, 23rd, 2024
The "new" halogen headlights that cam in some years back are so bright that thye should never have been given the green light. Speaking to someone who has them, they think they're great because they can see all in front of them, and do NOT CARE if they dazzle on coming traffic. But headlights used to be checked, to see if the beam was correctly set ! You can tell that it is not done by the amount of vehicles that point straight at you. This is a must do for all motorists as accidents are caused and could be avoided ! That said driving is at an all time low (40= years on the road), no ones cares, and it is summed up by, "if one gets away with it" then instead of sticking to the law, they join the club of inconsiderate drivers, and that club grows daily. I could go on !