Rules on 'dazzling' car headlights could soon change as update expected this summer

UK drivers could expect to see significant changes on the road in the future as the rules on "dazzling" headlights could change. The Government is set to publish the results of a report investigating LEDs and road safety this summer.

The research comes as a conducted at the end of 2023 found that around 90% of drivers in the UK have complained that modern headlights are "too bright". This study will look at the factors affecting headlight glare and determine if something can be done to reduce the impact of drivers being blinded.

Previously, future roads minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that research was in progress and will "due to deliver in summer 2025". This has since been confirmed by an update on the .

Ms Greenwood said: "All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety on a broad range of roads and environments.

"However, noting increased public concern about headlamp glare, Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes and develop potential countermeasures."

The issue is also on the radar of the United Nations international expert group on vehicle lighting, with additional measures expected to be introduced by September 2027. A DfT spokesperson explained that this independent research would contribute significantly to grasping the primary reasons behind driver glare and formulating "appropriate mitigations".

Research by the RAC in December 2023 found that 85% of drivers believe the problem of bright headlights is "getting worse".

The survey of 2,000 drivers found 89 percent think at least some headlights on cars on the road today are "too bright", of which 28 percent think "most are".

Of the motorists who complain about the brightness of car headlights, 91% said they get "dazzled" when driving, with 74% saying this happens "regularly". And 64% believe some headlights are so bright they risk causing accidents.

In fact, 5% of these drivers revealed they have nearly been involved in a collision themselves. Seven per cent said they find headlight glare so bad that they avoid driving at night altogether, which rises to 14% for drivers aged 65 and over.

The records how many times each year a police officer has noted "dazzling headlights" as a factor contributing to an accident.

Over a decade, the data shows the highest number of collisions in 2013 at 369, and the lowest in 2020 at 196 - which was influenced by the Covid lockdowns.

LED (light emitting diode) headlights are significantly brighter than traditional halogen bulbs.

This is worsened if headlights are not properly aligned and the increasing popularity of taller vehicles like SUVs, which can direct the light beam more directly into the eyes of drivers in lower cars.