Millions avoid driving at night due to headlight glare
Wed, 29 Oct 2025
As the government announces an investigation into the scourge of headlight glare, new research reveals millions of drivers are being impacted.
Four in five drivers are concerned about getting dazzled by vehicle headlights with the arrival of darker evenings, research by the RAC has found.
Meanwhile, Go.Compare found that 1 in 4 motorists say they intentionally avoid driving at night – which could mean more than 10 million people are no longer comfortable driving when it's dark.
There was a gender split too, with nearly a third of women saying they avoid driving at night due to headlight glare.
"While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling," says RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
"At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead – so there’s a balance to be struck."
Denise Voon is a clinical advisor at the College of Optometrists and says patients are telling her more frequently that headlight glare from oncoming vehicles is affecting their ability to see clearly while driving.
"This is particularly at a time when brighter LED headlamps and larger SUV-type vehicles have become more common on the road."
This week, the BBC revealed the government plans to launch a new assessment of the causes and remedies of headlight dazzle. It will be part of the upcoming Road Safety Strategy, following research by the Department for Transport.
A DfT spokesperson told the BBC that it knows headlight glare is frustrating for many drivers, especially as the evenings get darker.
The RAC began campaigning about headlight glare several years ago, teaming up with the College of Optometrists, IAM RoadSmart and Baroness Hayter. This led to the government commissioning independent research conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory.
This is due to be published soon.
