Car lights at night: how to reduce headlight glare

The risk of an accident taking place because of dazzling vehicle headlights is a concern to the vast majority of drivers, according to a Which? survey.

Our survey of 1,234 Which? members, which took place in October 2024, found 76% of drivers were concerned about collisions caused by headlight glare. Some 55% said some car headlights on UK roads were too bright, while 18% thought most were too bright.

We also found 93% of those who found vehicle headlights too bright had been dazzled by another vehicle’s lights, with just 5% saying they hadn’t been.

Below, we outline what you can do to minimise the risk of being dazzled and actions you can take to ensure your headlights are functioning correctly.

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Are headlights getting too bright?

Government figures show there has been an average of 260 collisions every year since 2014 where dazzling headlights were a factor. Plus, organisations such as the RAC say headlight glare is on the rise.

Reasons for this include the use of brighter and more economical bluish-white LED headlights or xenon/high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs as standard. Many older cars still use 'yellow light' halogen headlamp bulbs.

The growing popularity of SUVs and other taller vehicles is also causing issues for motorists, as the vehicles' headlights often align with the eye level of drivers in oncoming or lower vehicles – making glare more likely to shine directly into their eyes.

In our survey, drivers said they took a range of actions in response to being dazzled at night. Some said they looked away from the lights, while others told us they slowed down or flashed their lights at the oncoming driver to try to get them to turn their lights down.

Of those who had been dazzled, 10% said they had stopped driving at night, while 5% said they wear night driving glasses.

Are night driving glasses safe to wear? It may surprise you to learn that experts say they aren't a good idea 

What can I do about bright car headlights?

• Adjust your rear-view mirror Some cars have tinted rear windows or self-dimming rear-view mirrors, but most need you to adjust the mirror manually when it's dark – do this to help cut down on glare.
• Keep your distance when driving Our depth perception isn't as good in the dark, so leaving more space between you and the vehicle in front is a good night-time driving strategy.
• Let your eyes adapt to the dark Sit for a minute or two in your car before driving off, to allow your eyes to adjust to lower light levels.
• If in doubt, take it slow or stop The Highway Code says you should slow down and, if necessary, stop if you’re dazzled.
• Keep your windscreen clean Dirt and streaks on the window can cause light to scatter, potentially making headlight glare worse. A window vac can be a useful tool for keeping your car windows spotless and streak-free during winter. We've tested to find the best window vacs.
• Try glasses with glare-resistant lenses Advice from the AA notes these can help if you could suffer from headaches or eye strain when you drive.
• Take breaks if your eyes feel strained Fatigue can make glare feel even worse.

Remember, if you're being dazzled, it's possible you're doing the same to others, so check your car's manual to find out how to adjust the angle of your headlights – particularly if you're driving with an unusually heavy load.

Advice from a Which? Trusted Trader

Andrew Petrou, Andrew's Auto Repairs Co Ltd

The team at Andrew's Auto Repairs, based in Manchester, has more than 50 years of experience in the industry. Its qualified mechanics work on car servicing, MOTs and diagnostics.

Issues with your headlights can impact other drivers and limit their visibility.

Andrew says: 'I recommend you check your headlights every week. Make sure they work and are positioned correctly, so other road users aren’t dazzled.

'Modern cars have LED lights, which are fairly reliable. However, the bulbs on older vehicles can fail without the driver immediately realising it, which can pose a safety risk.

'If your car has features such as automatic full beam, you may wish to disable it before starting your journey so it doesn't become a distraction. If the full beam comes on automatically and doesn’t always go off when it should, then switch off the automatic setting and control it manually.'

Looking ahead

The government is currently commissioning independent research into the issue of drivers being dazzled by bright headlights to help identify potential countermeasures.

In a project running into the spring of 2025, the research will use a car with special instruments to measure light levels experienced by drivers during real driving on UK roads.

Factors like the vehicles around the instrumented car, weather conditions and ambient lighting will also be measured, to build a complete understanding of the conditions most likely to give rise to high brightness levels, and glare.