Four in five drivers are worried about car headlights dazzling them in the dark, according to a new survey.
The clocks went back on Sunday, which has resulted in the sun setting even earlier each day and people having to make more post-work journeys in darkness.
“Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers, the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort,” RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said.
An RAC-commissioned survey of 1,701 regular UK drivers shows that 82% are worried about being dazzled by bright headlights.
More than a third of drivers said they are nervous about driving in the dark, with most (75%) of them attributing this to the brightness of some headlights.
Meanwhile, 63% of drivers said it is because hazards are more difficult to see in darkness, and 41% said it is harder to judge the speed of other vehicles.
The RAC believes headlights appear brighter on modern cars due to bi-xenon or LED bulbs creating a more intense beam than traditional halogen ones.
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Badly aligned headlights and the prevalence of SUVs, which usually have headlights in a higher position, are other potential factors for the lights appearing brighter.
Denise Voon, clinical adviser at the College of Optometrists, said patients are “telling us more frequently” that headlight glare is “affecting their ability to see clearly while driving”.
Many people are responding to the problem of headlight glare by “reducing their driving in the evenings”, according to Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.
He urged motorists to check the aim of their headlights and ensure lenses are clean.
RAC senior policy officer Mr Dennis said that while headlight glare is a problem that “needs tackling”, it is “important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead – so there’s a balance to be struck”.
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The government has commissioned a report by consultancy TRL into headlight glare, which is expected to be published in the coming weeks, and a Westminster Hall debate on the issue will be held on Wednesday.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We know headlight glare is frustrating for many drivers, especially as the evenings get darker.
“That’s why we commissioned independent research to better understand the causes and impact of glare, which will inform new measures in the upcoming Road Safety Strategy.
“Alongside this, DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) has stepped up surveillance to intercept the sale of illegal retrofit headlamp bulbs for on-road use, and anyone caught could face a fine of up to £1,000.”
