Dazzled Drivers on the Rise
The brightness of headlights is becoming an increasing issue for drivers of all ages.
A new RAC study of 2,700 drivers’ views has found:
- 89% think some or most car headlights on the UK’s roads are too bright
- 88% saying they get dazzled by them while driving
- 63% of drivers who get dazzled saying it’s happening more often than a year or two ago
- 23% claiming they’re now dazzled a lot more regularly
Of all of those who believe headlights are too bright:
- 64% think they risk causing other drivers to have collisions
- 67% say they can’t tell if the headlights of oncoming cars are dipped or on full beam
Demographics
- 30% of those aged 17-34 think most are too bright
- 19% of those aged 65 and over think most are too bright
- 70% of younger drivers think the accident risk is increased
- 62% of drivers aged 65+ think the accident risk is increased
The brightness of some car headlights even appears to be putting motorists off driving at night.
Driving at Night
- 22% of women
- 9% of men
- 25% of drivers aged 65 and over
avoid driving at night
Duration of Dazzle
The RAC’s research also asked dazzled drivers to estimate how long it typically takes for them to be able to see clearly again.
- 65% said it took between one and five seconds
- 12% said it took upwards of six seconds
Being unable to see for one second while driving at 60mph means a driver would travel around 13 metres.
Blame
- 23% blamed the LED headlights fitted to an increasing number of modern vehicles
- 17% said they felt the problems are caused by the angle of oncoming vehicles’ beams
- 61% of lower vehicles who said they suffered from glare blamed the headlights on taller
Comment
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said:
“It’s clear that the problem of drivers being dazzled by the headlights of others isn’t going away, and in fact our research shows that a large proportion of drivers say they’re getting dazzled more regularly now than a year or two ago. What’s more, and perhaps surprisingly, it’s younger drivers who are more likely to complain about glare which suggests the matter has little – if anything – to do with an individual’s eyesight.
“There are a number of factors that contribute to whether a headlight dazzles another driver or not, the most important being the angle of the headlights as you look at them. If they’re not angled properly – or the driver in the oncoming car has forgotten to dip their headlights – there’s every chance you’re going to get blinded. Modern LED headlight technology may also have a part to play as the human eye reacts to the so-called ‘blue light’ from LEDs differently to the ‘yellow light’ of conventional halogen headlights.
“This presents a real irony: the brighter and better your vehicle’s headlights are, the clearer your night-time view of the road ahead is, often it seems at the expense of anyone coming towards you. The full intensity of your headlights – especially if they’re not angled down correctly – can cause oncoming drivers to momentarily glance away from the road or even be blinded for a few seconds. In short, being dazzled isn’t just about discomfort, it also represents a significant road safety risk.
“But while the apparent dazzling effect caused by headlights is a complicated one, it’s blindingly obvious just how many drivers want the issue looked into by the Government with a view to improving things for the future. Despite the RAC first having flagged drivers’ concerns several years ago, we’re not aware anything at all has happened – which will no doubt be extremely disappointing to many drivers.”
Official Stats
According to government data, since 2013, nearly 300 accidents occur annually (on average) where dazzling headlights were a contributory factor.
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Dazzled Drivers on the Rise