Drivers avoiding night trips over ‘intense headlights’

18 February 2025  

A quarter of UK motorists are cutting back on driving at night because modern vehicle headlight systems are too bright, according to a new survey.

Headlamp alignment and changes in lighting technology — from halogen to bi-xenon and LED — are among the causes cited by drivers in the RAC survey released yesterday.

Around 75% of respondents who drive less do so because intense headlights make the experience uncomfortable or more difficult, according to the RAC.

Almost all drivers agree vehicle headlights can be too bright, while more than a third (36%) believe most are, with a further 59% saying some of them are.

Drivers aged under 35 are more likely to say most headlights are too bright (41%), as are those who drive conventional hatchbacks, estates and saloons. Of that group, 38% said most headlights are too bright, although it’s still the case that three-in-10 (29%) who drive vehicles that sit higher on the road like SUVs say ‘most are’.

‘Worsened’

Meanwhile, 61% of drivers who suffer from headlight glare said the problem had worsened in just 12 months, with only 26% disagreeing.

Looking at the colour of headlights, 72% of glare sufferers associated the problem with ‘whiter-coloured headlights’ (which the RAC said are most likely to be LEDs or bi-xenon headlights), compared to just 3%, who thought the problem was ‘yellower-coloured ones’ (most likely to be halogen headlights).

One-in-10 (11%) said both headlight colours caused the problem, while 15% were unsure.

A government-commissioned project looking at issues most likely to lead to headlight glare is expected to report back by the summer, following campaigning by the RAC, The College of Optometrists and others.

Official government statistics show that since 2013, there has been an average of 280 collisions a year where dazzling headlights were a contributory factor.

Of these, six a year involved someone losing their life, the RAC said. However, this only included those collisions where a police officer attending could be sure that headlight dazzle was a factor.

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “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.

“The fact such a high proportion of people are also driving less at night, or wish they could, is remarkable and demonstrates the need for glare to be tackled.”

But Dennis said this does need to be balanced with the potential road safety benefits afforded to people driving vehicles with brighter headlights.

OEM headlamp manufacturer HELLA warned the high light output of modern headlights has made proper alignment more critical than ever, as even minor misalignments can have a significant impact on other road users.

Dave Clark, lighting product and brand manager, said: “While brighter headlights improve road safety by enhancing visibility, improper alignment, the rise of higher-riding vehicles, and the intensity of advanced lighting technologies are contributing to driver discomfort and reduced confidence.

“It’s vital to strike the right balance between illumination and safety.”

Independent garages have a critical role in addressing headlight glare by ensuring proper headlamp alignment during routine maintenance, the firm said.