Intense beams means up to ¼ motorists driving less at night
One in four drivers, who find vehicle headlights too bright, are driving less at night, according to a study by the RAC.
The organisation says its survey is ‘believed to be the most in-depth research into motorists’ views on the issue.’
It finds that nearly 50% say they feel less safe as a result of the issue and that one in 20 drivers have stopped driving at night altogether.
‘With the exception of potholes, few motoring topics seem to rouse as much interest among the nation’s drivers right now as bright headlights,’ says Rod Dennis, RAC senior policy officer.
‘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.’
‘What has gone from a mere frustration is now having a profound impact on people – whether that’s momentarily being blinded while driving or struggling to judge the speed or position of a vehicle ahead.’
‘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.’
‘Virtually every driver experiences the problem of over-bright headlights’
‘This does, however, need to be balanced with the potential road safety benefits afforded to people driving vehicles with brighter headlights.’
‘Our research does suggest that the difference in height of vehicles affects how drivers perceive glare, as does the colour of headlights on oncoming traffic.’
‘It also appears to be more of a problem on unlit roads, where drivers’ vision is subjected to greater levels of contrast.’
‘We hope our findings prove to be valuable to both industry and government in understanding the effects dazzling headlights are having on drivers.’
‘At the same time, we’re pleased to be able to dispel some myths around the topic, such as the one that headlight glare is something that affects only older drivers.’
‘Interestingly, drivers under the age of 35 are more likely to say most vehicle headlights are too bright.’
Following campaigning led mainly by the RAC, Baroness Hayter and The College of Optometrists, the Government commissioned a project looking at the conditions most likely to lead to headlight glare – and what can be done to address them.
‘As this detailed study shows, virtually every driver experiences the problem of over-bright headlights, and many find the dazzle sufficiently problematic to stop or reduce their driving at night, with real social and other costs,’ says Baroness Dianne Hayter.
‘The RAC has produced the evidence, now the Government needs to take action – whether on the colour, intensity or angle of these glaring lights.’
Bright headlights leaving motorists ‘tired and fatigued’
Almost all drivers surveyed said that vehicle headlights can be too bright. 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.
What’s more, six-in-10 UK drivers (61%) who suffer from headlight glare say the problem has worsened in just 12 months.
Looking at motorists who still drive at night, nearly a fifth (17%) say bright headlights leave them feeling tired and fatigued while driving, while 16% say they’ve suffered with headaches, migraines and / or eye pain.
Meanwhile, six-in-10 (59%) say dazzle makes driving more difficult and uncomfortable, a figure that rises to 65% for 65 to 74-year-olds and 67% for those aged 75 and over.
‘Optometrists are hearing from our patients more and more frequently that they’re having issues with night driving because of headlight glare from oncoming vehicles,’ says Denise Voon, clinical adviser at The College of Optometrists.
‘Motorists must always wear their prescribed glasses or contact lens for driving, including at night, and we urge anyone experiencing issues with their vision while driving to contact their local optometrist for advice.’
‘However, more motorists are experiencing issues with their vision while driving at night earlier than we’d expect them to be impacted by age-related eye conditions, such as cataracts.’
‘We look forward to the findings from the government’s headlight glare research project and hope this evidence enables the industry to find a solution that will reduce headlight glare and make driving at night safer for everyone.’
The RAC says that official government statistics show that since 2013, there has been an average of 280 collisions a year where dazzling headlights were a contributory factor.
