Headlight glare the focus of new research project
Research into the potential risks of dazzling headlight glare has now begun.
The research, which is being carried out by Transport Research Foundation subsidiary TRL with support from the RAC, will include practical trials to assess the impact of headlight glare from oncoming vehicles.
TRL will then share insights with the Department for Transport (DfT) to help it understand what measures can be taken address the issue.
The research, which will continue until next spring, will measure light levels and assess the impact of surrounding vehicles, weather conditions, and ambient lighting.
Headlight glare risks
This comes after an RAC survey of 2,000 drivers revealed that 89% believe that at least some car headlights on the road today are too bright, with 28% claiming most are excessively bright. Meanwhile, 91% reported experiencing glare at some point, with 74% stating that this happens regularly.
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis: “We’re pleased to be contributing to this important piece of work that we very much hope will get to the bottom of the glare issue experienced by so many drivers up and down the country. Our own long-term research shows that a significant proportion of the driving population struggle with dazzle, with some people reducing how much they drive, or even giving up driving at night altogether.
“Understanding what’s causing these problems, and most importantly what can be done about them in the future, will be a huge step forward for drivers.”
