More than half of drivers who are dazzled by headlights – 57% – say the problem has worsened over the last 12 months with only three-in-10 (31%) disagreeing, comprehensive new RAC research has found.
In findings that lay bare the continued impact of headlight glare, 63% of all drivers say they are subjected to dazzle from vehicles behind that they can’t avoid, of which 14% say it happens regularly. A third of those affected by dazzle (33%) feel less safe when driving at night while a quarter (25%) say it knocks their confidence behind the wheel.
A quarter of respondents (25%) who find headlights too bright are either driving less at night or have given up altogether – but interestingly it’s those at either end of the age spectrum that are most affected, with the figure leaping to 33% of under 35s and as many as 43% of those aged 75 and above. And across drivers of all age groups, 16% wished they could drive less at night but have no choice not to.
Of those who are now driving less at night as a result of headlight glare, four-in-five (78%) say it was because they found driving more difficult or uncomfortable. Almost half (45%) of motorists now drive less at night because it makes them feel unsafe behind the wheel.
Driving less or even stopping doing so at night is also having a tangible effect on people’s lives with 36% of this group now having less contact with friends while a quarter (24%) aren’t seeing family members as much. Almost six-in-10 (58%) say their social life has been impacted while 15% find it harder to attend important events like healthcare appointments as they struggle to drive in the dark.
The RAC asked drivers about how their current vehicle’s headlights differ from their last. Of those that said their latest vehicle had brighter headlights, half (49%) said they felt safer as a result – but interestingly this means the remainder felt no safer or even less safe when driving a vehicle with brighter headlights.
And of the third of respondents (32%) who drive cars with adaptive driving beam systems – which automatically switch headlights to high beam, then back to dipped beam when an oncoming vehicle is detected – a quarter (24%) said they don’t think they dip fast enough, increasing the risk of dazzling other roads users.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said:
“Dazzle from headlights is now a perennial problem for drivers and it’s clearer than ever that they want to see something done. For some it’s just a mild annoyance but for others it’s tangibly affecting their lives as drivers – from feeling less safe or confident behind the wheel to avoiding nighttime journeys altogether.
“Drivers consistently tell us the height of vehicles, and the apparent colour of headlights are contributors to glare, so these are two areas we believe the Government should consider in its next stage of research.
(Picture: Yay Images)
