Motorists could soon see new driving law changes introduced to crack down on dazzling LED headlights that have caused havoc on roads in recent years, especially for older drivers who may be more sensitive to bright lights.
As winter draws in and the days get shorter, more drivers, especially those in older generations, could be forced off roads for months at a time, as they feel unsafe when driving in darker conditions.
The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) announced last October that it was beginning practical trials to assess the conditions of drivers when impaired by glare from oncoming headlights.
TRL said it was working with the Department for Transport to understand the factors that can cause glare and how to address them to mitigate risks on the road.
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The DfT is expected to provide an update on the headlight glare trials in due course
|GETTY
The trials, which have since concluded, involved using a car to measure light levels experienced by motorists during real-life driving conditions on UK roads.
Prior to the trials, TRL said it would be looking at weather conditions and ambient lighting to "build a complete understanding" of factors which are most likely to increase brightness and glare.
A Department for Transport spokesperson told GB News that the project is expected to conclude this summer, at which point it will update on its findings, alongside TRL, "as soon as possible".
They added: "We know there is increased public concern about headlamp glare - that's why we have commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes, which will help identify potential mitigations.
Studies have shown that headlight glare has a huge impact on most drivers, especially older motorists
| GETTY"There is also work underway at an international level on headlight glare prevention, which we will consider."
It is currently illegal for motorists to retrofit LEDs into modern vehicles, which Rod Dennis, spokesperson at the RAC, warned might surprise some drivers.
He highlighted that most international standards haven't been updated since the 1960s and fail to take into account new technologies, like xenon and LED headlights.
It has been suggested that drivers are more commonly dazzled by bright headlights because of the prevalence of new LED lights, which emit a more targeted white light, rather than older halogen bulbs, which may appear more yellow.
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Data from the RAC earlier this year found that 25 per cent of motorists who find vehicle headlights too bright are driving less at night, while three-quarters of people say they drive less because of the intense headlights.
Mike Bowen, Director of Knowledge and Research at the College of Optometrists, said older drivers are likely to be "disproportionately affected" by headlight glare, potentially forcing them off the roads in greater numbers than motorists in other age groups.
A similar study from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) found that 71 per cent of drivers find headlight glare "unbearable or annoying", while a concerning 32 per cent said they almost always or regularly feel dazzled by other cars.
A further 51 per cent of motorists said they pinch their eyes shut or even close them briefly when being dazzled, which could cause chaos on roads at night if they were to lose control of their vehicle and cause other road safety concerns.
Bright headlights are often identified as one of the most serious problem on UK roads
| PAThe FIA study found that glare in road traffic was not "a phenomenon of hypersensitive individuals" and that the majority of drivers feel dazzled in standard motoring instances.
It called on governments around the world to conduct further studies to investigate the cause of glare and determine limit values for how bright a vehicle's headlights can be.
Another recommendation included introducing new regulations for the design of lights and headlamps for road traffic that take into account the risk of glare for all road users.
The Department for Transport has previously confirmed that it will look to launch the first Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade later this year or early 2026.
It is not yet known whether anything regarding headlight glare will be included in the updated guidance, despite the impact it has on millions of motorists across the UK.