A Labour government could be poised to introduce stricter regulations on vehicle headlights, following a damning official report that found an overwhelming majority of British motorists are being dangerously dazzled by oncoming lights.
The Scale of the Dazzling Problem
The Department for Transport-commissioned study, focusing on glare from vehicle lighting, delivered stark statistics. It revealed that 97% of drivers experience being dazzled by oncoming headlights, with 39% saying it happens regularly and 58% sometimes.
Furthermore, the public perception is that modern lights are simply too intense. The report found that 96% of motorists believe most or some headlights are excessively bright. When asked to pinpoint the cause, 70% of respondents blamed the newer, whiter-coloured lights often associated with LED technology.
SUVs and Misalignment Worsen the Issue
The problem is exacerbated by two key trends in the automotive market. Firstly, the surge in popularity of taller vehicles like SUVs and 4x4s means their headlight beams are positioned higher, shining more directly into the cabins and eyes of drivers in lower cars. The research confirmed this, showing that 47% of drivers blamed higher vehicles for dazzling them.
Secondly, the widespread adoption of LED (light-emitting diode) headlights, which are significantly brighter than traditional halogen bulbs, has changed the nighttime driving landscape. This is made worse if these powerful lights are not correctly aligned during MOT tests or through wear and tear.
Four-Step Plan to Cut Glare
The report, published in January 2026, concluded with four key recommendations for the government to consider. These steps form a potential roadmap for future policy under a Labour administration.
The proposed actions are:
- Improve understanding by conducting annual glare surveys with UK drivers.
- Launch a public information campaign to educate drivers on when they might cause or experience glare.
- Conduct further research into the specific vehicle design parameters that cause real-world glare.
- Improve lighting regulations to directly reduce glare.
On this final, crucial point, the report noted that current regulations test headlamp output in relation to the light unit itself, not from the perspective of a driver being dazzled. It suggested the DfT could develop new regulatory proposals based on further research.
Official Response and Accident Data
At the time the report was commissioned, the then future roads minister, Lilian Greenwood, acknowledged the growing public concern. She stated that while headlamps are designed to international standards, the government had commissioned the independent research to understand the root causes and develop countermeasures.
Separate DfT data records how often police cite dazzling headlights as a contributing factor in accidents. Over a decade, the figures have fluctuated, with a high of 369 collisions in 2013 and a low of 196 in 2020, a year heavily affected by Covid-19 lockdowns and reduced traffic.
The findings place significant pressure on policymakers to act, with Labour now positioned to consider concrete regulatory changes aimed at making nighttime driving safer for the vast majority of affected motorists.
