Data shows that almost all drivers have been affected by headlight glare, compromising their ability to travel safely on UK roads, prompting urgent calls for Labour to intervene.
According to recent research, 97 per cent of drivers have experienced some form of headlight glare, with the problem appearing to worsen in recent years.
The phenomenon has caused growing concern among motorists, with searches for “driving at night” increasing by 13 per cent over the last year.
Earlier this year, a petition launched calling for the UK Government to ban LED headlights and has already gathered over 4,300 signatures.
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The RAC reported that six in 10 drivers have been affected by headlight glare
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The petition, created by Gemma Mooney, stated: “I believe they are dangerously too bright. Some drivers are using them on a full beam, causing difficulty for other drivers.”
If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government will be required to respond. With 100,000 signatures, it would be considered for debate in Parliament. The petition will remain open until June 5.
Mike Thompson, COO at Leasing Options, explained that low light reduces vision and depth perception, making it more difficult to read road signs and markings as well as distinguish pedestrians, and cyclists, and identify “any potential hazards”.
The RAC also found that drivers experienced tiredness, headaches and even migraines when exposed to particularly bright headlights.
The impact of headlight glare has led many drivers to change their habits, with some reducing night driving or stopping completely.
Thompson added: “When driving at night, exposure to blue light can make it harder for our eyes to adapt to our surroundings – and in turn, make it harder for us to focus on the road, signs and potential hazards.
“Ambient blue light from larger sources outside of your car could also impact your eyesight. Although further away, things like LED street lights and billboards will create an additional challenge for drivers, particularly in poorly lit areas.”
Due to the human eye reacting differently to LED lights compared to “yellower” halogen beams, it can cause issues for motorists.
According to LightAware, a particular problem with LED headlights is that the light is not distributed evenly across the headlight beam.
This means that vehicle headlights that appear dimmed on approach “can suddenly become blinding if the centre of the beam shines directly into a driver’s eyes, for example when a vehicle travels over the brow of a hill or round a bend,” the charity explained.
Reports by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents also detailed how between the ages of 15 and 65 there is a sharp difference in recovery time from being blinded by headlights varying between one to nine seconds, during which a vehicle traveling at sixty miles an hour can travel over 250 yards in this time.
The RAC also noted how LED bulbs are more commonly found in SUVs and taller vehicles with more than half of dazzled drivers (56 per cent) in conventional cars blaming these vehicle types.
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More vehicles are being fitted with LED headlights rather than ‘traditional’ halogen bulbs PAResponding to growing concerns around headlight glare, the Government confirmed it had commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes of headlight glare and to develop potential countermeasures.
Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport, Lilian Greenwood stated: “This work is due to deliver in summer 2025; it will include real-world assessment of glare on a broad range of road types and scenarios including country roads.”