Motorists ‘dazzled’ by modern car headlights

Drivers are being temporarily blinded by the latest vehicle headlights, according to new research.

Two-thirds of drivers say they are “regularly dazzled” by oncoming headlights even though they are dipped, an RAC survey of 2,061 motorists claims.

And 67% of those said it can take up to five seconds for their sight to clear with a further 10% claiming the effect on their eyes lasts up to 10 seconds.

About 15% of those drivers polled said they had nearly suffered a collision as a result of being dazzled by other drivers using full-beam headlights.

A range of different types of headlights are fitted to UK vehicles from the traditional halogen headlamps to the brighter, newer xenon, or high intensity discharge lights which are longer-lasting due to not having a filament, and LED headlamps which are said to produce a light much more similar to daylight that is not as dazzling to drivers in oncoming traffic due to less glare.

However, while the new designs of headlights are brighter, making it easier for drivers to see and therefore potentially safer for them, this may be at the expense of the safety of other road users, says the RAC.

A driver recovering from being dazzled by headlights for five seconds while driving at 60mph would cover a distance of 134m, which is more than the length of a football pitch.

“The intensity and brightness of some new car headlights is clearly causing difficulty for other road users,” explained RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams.

“Headlight technology has advanced considerably in recent years, but while that may be better for the drivers of those particular vehicles, it is presenting an unwanted, new road safety risk for anyone driving towards them or even trying to pull out at a junction.

“Drivers also find it very distracting when they have to contend with being dazzled by bright lights in their rear view mirrors.”