As the clocks fell back last weekend and the United Kingdom plunged into longer, darker evenings, a familiar frustration has returned to the nation’s roads: drivers being dazzled, or even temporarily blinded, by the glare of modern car headlights. This week, mounting complaints from motorists have prompted the UK government to launch a comprehensive review of car and headlamp design, with a particular focus on the increasingly prevalent—and controversial—LED headlights.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced on October 28, 2025, that it is commissioning new research into the causes and remedies of headlight glare. The findings, expected to be published in the coming weeks, will help shape the government’s forthcoming Road Safety Strategy. This strategy will not only address lighting but is also expected to tighten rules around drink-driving and eyesight testing for older motorists, according to Professor Yit Yang, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough.
“As the clocks go back and more people are driving in the dark, glare from modern headlights can be especially challenging,” Professor Yang explained. “The clouding of the lens makes the eye more sensitive to bright light, so oncoming LED beams can feel blinding and slow the recovery of vision.” He added that drivers experiencing halos, glare, blurred vision, or worsening night vision should have their eyes checked, as conditions like cataracts can make glare particularly troublesome. “A simple eye test can identify whether cataracts or another condition is to blame. Early treatment can dramatically improve night vision and make driving safer.”
For those diagnosed with cataracts, the solution can be straightforward. “Once the cloudy lens is replaced, most patients see a big difference—not only clearer vision but also greater safety when driving at night. Good eyesight and safe headlights must go hand in hand,” Professor Yang noted. Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough, offers cataract surgery for both NHS and private patients, with private treatment available within weeks and the option for enhanced lenses that further improve night driving vision.
The problem of dazzling headlights is not new, but it has become more pronounced with the widespread adoption of LED technology. LED headlights, now standard on most new cars, produce a whiter, sharper, and more focused beam compared to the softer glow of traditional halogen bulbs. While this can improve the driver’s own visibility, it can also create a piercing glare for oncoming motorists—especially older drivers, whose eyes take longer to recover from sudden brightness. Road safety consultant Rob Heard told reporters, “Older drivers’ eyes can take around nine seconds to recover from glare, compared to one second for a 16-year-old. In severe cases, we might need to stop until our sight can recuperate.”
For Ruth Goldsworthy and Sally Burt, who regularly drive to their weekly choir meetings in Totton, Hampshire, the impact of bright headlights is all too real. “Some of the lights are so bright you are blinded by them, for seconds,” Goldsworthy explained. Burt added, “I’m not sure where to look, I look into the gutter.” Both women said they often rely on others to drive at night. Linda, from Bristol, told BBC 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell that the brightness of modern headlights is “unnecessary and horrible,” causing her to avoid night driving altogether. Bus driver Mike from Scarborough echoed these concerns, saying that bright lights can confuse drivers, making it difficult to tell if other vehicles are flashing their lights or not.
Surveys back up their experiences. According to an RAC poll of 1,701 regular UK drivers, more than four out of five are worried about being blinded by vehicle headlights as the evenings grow darker. Over a third say they feel nervous about driving after dark, and three-quarters report that headlights are getting brighter and more distracting. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis remarked, “Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival—that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort.” He added, “Glare has become a major frustration for many drivers, yet regulation hasn’t kept up with modern lighting technology.” The current rules on headlamps date back to 1989, a time long before today’s LED systems became commonplace.
It’s not just a matter of discomfort. Headlight glare is cited as a factor in around 250 accidents each year, according to the RAC. However, there is no evidence that LED headlights are causing more collisions than previous designs. Experts warn that some motorists are simply avoiding night driving altogether, which can have broader social impacts—limiting independence and social activity, especially for older people.
So what’s causing the problem? While LED lights are often blamed, experts like Thomas Broberg, senior safety adviser at Volvo, point out that poor headlight alignment is often the real culprit. “LED lights can improve road safety by enhancing visibility, but avoiding dazzle is equally important,” he said. “For larger cars and SUVs, the lights sit higher and must be angled downwards to avoid dazzling others.” Broberg also noted that factors such as road shape and vehicle load can affect glare. Some newer vehicles feature adaptive headlights that automatically adjust their angle based on conditions, but not all systems respond quickly enough, and many cars still require manual adjustment.
The government’s review will look at a range of factors, including headlamp alignment, vehicle height, and adaptive lighting technology. It will also feed into international discussions about best practices for headlight safety. In the meantime, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has increased surveillance to crack down on illegal retrofit LED bulbs, which are a known source of glare when fitted into halogen housings. Anyone caught using illegal bulbs can face a fine of up to £1000, and such modifications can cause a vehicle to fail its MOT.
The College of Optometrists offers practical advice for drivers hoping to reduce glare: keep windscreens and glasses clean, avoid looking directly at oncoming lights (try focusing on the road edge instead), and steer clear of night-driving sunglasses, which can actually reduce overall visibility rather than alleviating glare.
With MPs scheduled to debate the issue in Westminster on October 29, 2025, and the DfT’s research results due imminently, many drivers are hoping for clear recommendations and swift action. As Rod Dennis of the RAC put it, “We don’t want to go back to dimmer headlights. It’s about finding the right balance—bright enough to see safely, without blinding others.”
For now, the nation waits for the government’s next move—hoping that the glare of progress won’t come at the expense of safety on Britain’s roads.
