More light on road safety

The issue of headlight glare from modern LED headlights continues to fill new headlines.

While the government has launched new independent research, it has also stated that its data reveals no increase in crashes due to modern headlights.

However, the public appears to be seeing things differently.

Seeing the road

Another recent survey has revealed that 85% of drivers have been temporarily blinded or dazzled by oncoming headlights from other vehicles.

The survey, collated by car insurance comparison site Tiger.co.uk.

It also reveals drivers feel strongly about this issue, with nine in ten (89%) supporting the government’s call for a safety assessment and nearly half (41%) believing LED lights should be banned entirely. 

Regulation and reality

Dazzling headlights contribute to an average of 216 incidents per year but the exact number may be much higher.

At present, crash reports often fond it difficult to determine whether the collision was directly caused by oncoming headlights from another vehicle, or whetehr they may have been a significant factor in an incident.

Many cars are now fitted with bright LED headlights and while this can significantly improve the view of the road ahead, the lights can dazzle other drivers, posing serious risks to all road users.

Balancing the improved road safety of clearer views of te road ahead and difficulties caused to other drivers is difficult.

The rules

The law The Highway Code rule 113 says that as a driver you must:

• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
• use headlights at night, except on a road that has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)

Night time is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise. Rule 114 states that as a driver, you must not:

• use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
• use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).

In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise the glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.

Drivers should also (rule 115):

• use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather
• keep headlights dipped when overtaking until level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users
• slow down, and if necessary stop, if dazzled by oncoming headlights

Evolving tech

Not only have advancements in technology made lights brighter, but often modern cars are also higher, which exacerbates the problem by producing a more direct and intense glare.

There are also a number of car owners who are replacing their old halogen headlights with LED upgrades, which can cause poor beam alignment and intense glare as halogen light housings are not designed for LED bulbs.

Halogen – Each bulb has a thin tungsten filament and a glass filament capsule filled with halogen gas. The gas is routed back to the tungsten filament so it regenerates the filament each time the headlight is turned on and used. A halogen bulb produces a bright, white light and has a lifetime of about 1,000 hours.

Xenon – Xenon headlights, officially known as high-intensity discharge headlamps (HIDs), emit a clean white light. A HID bulb does not have a filament; instead, it uses a xenon gas-charged, sealed system that generates light through an electrical charge that starts an arc between two electrodes. Xenon headlights are regarded as being much more efficient than halogen when it comes to the amount of produced light, although this can be a major issue in relation to dazzle if the angle of illumination isn’t properly configured because a xenon bulb is much brighter than a halogen one. A xenon bulb produces 3000 lumens , while a halogen light generates 1400 lumens.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) – gives off ’directional’ light, meaning they emit light in a specific direction when voltage is applied to it. LED is a popular display and lighting technology that is used in various kinds of electrical and electronic products and is now increasingly used in vehicle lighting systems. Being a semiconductor with no wear-and-tear parts, the bulb has an extremely long life, whilst also requiring less electricity than the traditional halogen bulb. LED provides focused rays and can be manufactured to create different shapes, such as rear brake light clusters.

Adaptive Headlights – these headlight systems are flexible and have the capability of adjusting the beam’s direction and intensity based on steering input, providing optimal illumination.

Matrix Technology – a newer innovation. Matrix headlights can selectively dim specific portions of the beam to avoid blinding oncoming drivers.

Blind benefits

Excessively bright headlights cause temporary blindness which can last a few seconds, affecting drivers’ vision after the car has gone past.

On the road, these few seconds of blindness can be crucial as drivers may fail to notice obstacles, sudden hazards or other road users.

This has led to a number of drivers feeling unsafe when driving at night, with some even giving up driving at night altogether.

Tiger blelieves these findings highlight the urgent need for stricter regulations to address the safety concerns associated with LED headlights.

Until stricter regulations are introduced, Tiger has highlighted steps drivers can take to minimise the risks associated with dazzling headlights and ensure they are mindful of other road users.

They say it’s important to only use high beams in low-traffic areas with no oncoming vehicles, adjust headlights when carrying heavy loads and upgrade lights responsibly, ensuring the new bulbs are compatible with the existing headlight housing.

Being resposible

Managing Director and car insurance expert at Tiger.co.uk, Ian Wilson, said: “While brighter LED headlights improve the view of the road ahead, they’ve also caused an increase of drivers reporting being dazzled by oncoming headlights.

“It’s clear from our survey that drivers are frustrated and concerned about the risks posed by overly bright headlights, with most drivers supporting the Ministers’ initiative to assess the usage of LED lights on the road.

“Being dazzled by headlights is extremely dangerous as diverting focus from the road for even a few seconds can lead to missed hazards, delayed reactions and serious accidents. Those moments of blindness can make all the difference in avoiding a collision or keeping other road users safe.

“The assessment of LED headlights is a step in the right direction, but drivers can help in the meantime by being considerate and ensuring their headlights are properly aligned and used responsibly.

Survey results

A randomised survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK during January 2025, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.