Drivers are increasingly reporting that headlight dazzle is becoming a bigger issue during night-time journeys.
More than half say the problem feels worse this winter, while a significant number admit they have been temporarily blinded by glare.
In fact, many say that they struggle to spot hazards, road markings or signs when faced with bright oncoming lights.
For fleets, that should not be dismissed as a minor frustration because we all know the safety implications on vision impairment while driving, and modern LED headlights can present a significant challenge to that.
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Even a momentary loss of visibility can have serious consequences – at 60mph, one second of impaired vision means travelling around 13 metres without a clear view of the road ahead.
There are behavioural impacts too, with some drivers now avoiding night driving altogether because they feel less confident or less safe.
For professional drivers, reduced confidence can increase stress levels and fatigue, particularly during winter months when journeys in darkness are unavoidable.
And with taller vehicles becoming more commonplace, headlights are being projected from a higher position, which can intensify the glare for other road users, adding to the issue.
Add in adaptive lighting systems that do not always dip quickly enough, and the issue becomes more complex.
By ensuring that regular headlight alignment checks are undertaken, you can at least make sure you’re not adding to the issue, as well as always knowing how to manually dip beams if needed.
It’s clear that the headlight debate will continue until a regulatory decision is made, with the government now under pressure to introduce standardised brightness as part of new safety regulations.
