If you’ve ever driven around a corner on a dark night and been momentarily blinded by an oncoming car with its lights on full beam, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re one of around 29 million others! A recent survey has found that some 48% of drivers – around 29 million of us – report having lost vision for some two seconds or so in this situation. So how big a problem is this? And what other causes of concentration loss can impact our driving?
Dazzling drivers
The problem is such a common one, particularly as we head into the longer nights of winter. We’ve all been there – you come around a corner and the car heading towards you hasn’t dipped its lights. This means you have a second or two where you can’t see, either because you’ve been dazzled or because you instinctively raise your hand to protect your eyes.
Despite the fact that many cars having an automatic dip-beam function, night-time dazzling remains an issue. To see just how big a problem this is, Direct Line did a series of roadside experiments. Their results found that drivers are temporarily blinded for a full two seconds in this situation. While this doesn’t sound very long, bear in mind that a car can cover 60 metres during that time if travelling at 70mph. That’s quite a distance to drive without vision.
Furthermore, it takes another three seconds for the aftereffects of that flash of light to clear from a driver’s vision entirely. Until then, the driver experiences those little black dots and flashes that result from looking at a bright light and then looking away. This means a dazzled driver doing 70mph would have travelled the length around half a football pitch without being able to see properly.
Vision problems
The study went on to reveal that many people have had problems as a result of this situation. A fifth of respondents said they have had to brake suddenly to deal with the situation, while around 5% – some 1.5 million drivers – have had to take evasive action to avoid a crash because they couldn’t see properly.
Government statistics paint a similar picture. In the last five years, there have been 1,622 road accidents caused by drivers dazzled by headlights. Of those, 22% were serious or fatal – a total of 350 incidents. 44% of these believed that repeat offenders who were caught should be penalised with a fine and penalty points.
Quality of lights
The quality of lights in cars has improved in recent years. However, this itself can cause problems. Some 37% of those surveyed said that they were blinded by a vehicle even when the lights were dipped. This is due to the use of Xenon bulbs, which create a brighter light than traditional halogen ones. It improves the visibility for the driver, but creates a strong glow for oncoming motorists.
Thankfully, changing technology should mean the problem is soon one of the past. Most modern cars now have an auto-dip function that identifies when another vehicle is close and lowers the lights accordingly. However, the system does have flaws, including not being able to recognise cyclists or pedestrians.
Other causes of distraction
Dazzling headlights aren’t the only cause of distractions for drivers on the road. One of the major issues is fatigue, which is responsible for one in six crashes around the UK. Drivers may think they have just briefly nodded, but many actually fall asleep at the wheel for a few moments. These micro-sleeps can last for around six seconds. That’s enough time for a vehicle to veer across three lanes of traffic or into a central reservation.
The dangers of using a mobile phone while driving have been well publicised, but other causes of distractions are less obvious. Smoking at the wheel is one example – finding the cigarette, lighting it, then opening the window all distract the driver from the road. Smoking leads to 1% of road traffic accidents.
At other times, our concentration just wanders. Daydreaming is another way in which a driver’s attention can be taken away from the road. It is worst on long, straight roads such as motorways, where the body and brain switch into autopilot and you don’t completely concentrate on what you are doing. This is particularly dangerous when travelling at speed.
Avoiding distractions
While some distractions like dazzling headlights can’t be avoided, others can be. It is important to keep your attention focused on the road at all times. Take regular breaks when driving – around 15 minutes for every two hours that you’re behind the wheel. And if you feel drowsy, stop as soon as it is safe to do so.
72% of drivers have admitted to multi-tasking behind the wheel. Are you one of them? Are distractions for drivers increasing and causing more accidents? Share your thoughts below.
Poor headlight alignment is a big problem here, although this is supposed to be checked in an MOT I do not feel enough attention is paid to this by MOT stations.
i think Xenon’s or LED headlight units in modern cars aren’t really the issue. For me it’s as said above, drivers of cars with “standard “halogen headlights who them fit them with HID bulb upgrades. The law is quite clear on this, that the headlight unit must be designed for Xenon technology (i.e. a projector lens rather than open reflector) as well as automatic headlight leveling and headlight washers. It’s these chavs driving their base Fiesta’s and Corsa’s with these blindingly bright lights that are the main problem. Yet despite having quite a few people like this round my way, many of them drive straight pass Police patrol cars who don’t stop they as they either can’t be bothered or seem to have better hings to do..
A further problem I find is some Headlights, witch I think are possibly LED’s, even when dipped tend to glare more ,& unnecessarily Bright
Usually illegal e-bay HID conversions. The light source isn’t small enough so the optics can’t focus it correctly
There are more and more larger cars out there now, their headlights are higher and cause endless problems for people in smaller cars
Doesn’t matter what height the vehicle is as the beam pattern is adjusted to hit the road at the same point when dipped.
Actually it for matter as when someone is closer to you if they are in a tall vehicle their lights hit you at a higher point.
Especially when they have the brighter, white lights.
It also affects on multiple lane roads due to the brightlight in a side mirror.
SHOULD be adjusted = a lot of them are not! Especially tractors – so of them round here drive with the ploughing lights on too…
Your Lights are higher and they blind people in normal lower cars, (end off)
I was being badly dazzled,now the dark early evenings are here.I went to my optician and in a spare pair he put in a plain glass with an anti dazzle coating,now it is sheer bliss driving early evening onwards
I was seriously dazzled by cyclist on the pavement coming towards me on my left hand side. There must be new very bright front lights on the market. Very dangerous. Another example of arrogant selfish cyclists, and I speak as a cyclist myself.
This is true & often made worse by impatient drivers close behind with bright lights trying to push you to go faster than speed limits
I searched Amazon and bought Opticaid NIGHT SIGHT POLARISED NIGHT DRIVING OVER GLASSES, DESIGNED TO BE WORN OVER PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR. It has made a big difference for me and I now feel confident driving at night having avoided driving at night for the last few years.
Can you wear these without prescription eyewear?
Thanks for this, I’ve been to amazon and ordered a pair.
I agree with Jonathan, with larger cars coming at you or from behind, I find it had to see a times. Some lights need the alignment sorted and others are far too bright. I used to like driving at night more than daytime, now it’s the other way round!
Cars today have too many distracting things fitted as standard touch screens are one of the main distractions but it could be made that they are unable to be touched to do anything unless the car is stationary you have to look before you touch so take your eyes off the road if you take you eyes off the road it is an accident just waiting to happen
ever since the square head lights became the norm they dazzle other drivers . i remember the old round headlights which did not blind other drivers as for cyclists on the pavements should be put back on the roads there seems to be a lack of common sense nowadays
The proliferation of cars fitted with front fog lights is a nightmare also. I live in the countryside and our village is accessed by unlit, narrow lanes. So, coming round a bend to meet Joe90 with a an array of lights, dipped or otherwise is a regular occurrence. Modern cars have headlights which do not need additional lights for the driver to see perfectly well, so why do these people need their fog lights blazing? They blind me when combined with dipped headlights in these situations. Too few offenders are prosecuted for misuse of fog lights in my opinion.
Agree – should be reminded by the Government who could run a short ad campaign on TV. Even my bete noir Jeremy Clarkson rails against them. They are illegal unless used in foggy conditions.
How long does it take to recover from sitting in a queue behind a car that doesn’t a hand brake? And why do the brightest and highest cars always have to be the one’s without a hand brake?
In the Highway Code, it is illegal to bling a driver by leaving your brake lights on and this is especially bad in rain. I put my handbrake on every time I am stopped, but I leave the brake lights on until the car behind me has stopped, just so he knows that I am not moving.
I have commented on this issue with a motoring organisation I belonged to and was referred to automatic cars by a member and they intimated I had never driven an auto, I have and believe it or not, it did have a handbrake. They appeared to think you couldn’t use the handbrake.
You are right that all cars have a parking brake (hand brake). But in my car the button is tucked away somewhere where it is not convenient to use unless actually parked in which case you use a footbrake hold function which keeps the brake lights on.
It’s not that they don’t have a handbrake, it’s that the driver is an inconsiderate, idle arsehole.
Whilst this all so true, one part that’s not mentioned is dazzling light by badly adjusted headlamps, with one illuminating the stars and the other either correct or down too far.
Also the number vehicles with defective either by wiring or simply a blown bulb.
I have some positive news about this issue. Recently I purchased a pair of yellow coloured anti-glare glasses. Having tested them on two long journey recently (of more nearly 100 miles each) I have found that they work extremely well. I strongly recommend them because they significantly reduce glare and cost less than £5 including postage. Beware of much more expensive brands! My hope is that if you try them problems with glare will be be virtually nil.
I do not understand some motoring organisation saying the new headlights on cars are so much better now! they may be for the driver of the new car but not for the person being overtaken and getting blinded in the door mirror or being blinded by a supper new light coming in the opposite direction with a bend or undulations in the road, gosh go back a few years please.
Hear, hear!
Another large issue which I don’t see mentioned here is “speed bumps”. When cars goes over them the front of the car lifts and lights automatically dazzels, the effect is same as main beam. The only good thing is that speed bumps are usully placed on 20-30mph roads. Especially dangerous are raised pedestrian crossings, people drive slower over them so they dazzle for longer. Few times I had to brake because I could not see whenever anyone is crossing it or not after being dazzled –
It king of makes crossings more dangerous in the dark, instead of making them safer. Speed bumps should be outlawed as they are just wrong way of enforcement e.g. they can be replaced with average speed cameras.
This makes a good case for turning off all gatso cameras – the flash is powerful and worse than headlights from oncoming vehicles.
The way some headlights are adjusted, I sometimes wonder how they ever passed a MOT,
What about drivers who leave their fog lights on often in broad day light.
I wonder if they know how to switch them off?
Then of course the idiots who don’t use their fog lights when it’s needed.
Larger cars may have higher headlights , but what about all the thoughtless motorbike riders with full headlights on, they are more mezmerising than car lights .
We used to have public information films as part of the adverts on TV, where did they go?
“Dip don’t dazzle” was the one for drivers! pity they went!!
No mention of LHD Lorries & Cars without Headlight Adaptors. If we did that in their country we’d get fined!
Other distractions are increasing in new cars with so many controls fir heating, Sat Nav, radio, music, windows , locks,telephones etc. One has to glance away from the road in front to press the right button or icon during which time a car in front may suddenly stop………crash. Voice control seems to be the answer.
I wear night vision glasses. Cuts down the problem of glare significantly.
It seems to me that motorcyclists almost invariably use full beam and cause intense dazzle – even in the daylight. They claim they want to be seen and mostly refuse to dip their lights.
Personally, although I am a confident capable driver in daylight I just drive considerably slower when oncoming lights dazzle me in the dark – as with fog and mist. I am not willing to drive fast into voids which I cannot see and take crazy risks to myself and others.
There is also the problem of the new, brighter headlights being in the same nacelle as the indicators. The headlights mask the indicators flashing – even during the day on occasions.
the new highway code by mini cabs is dazzle don’t dip the applies to Range Rovers an BMW drivers
The headlights of cars today do not have the light lenses made to be directional. We needed to use light deflectors when driving abroad, but no longer as all the headlight are clear lenses. This means that they do not comply with the British standard that was for vehicles made in England . One part fits all countries. This is part of the reason why this has become such a problem now.
Consideration for others is the answer. Nowadays everyone is so focused on getting from a to b instantly, they do not apply common sense. I was taught to check my lights regularly. Company vehicles, vans, trucks etc used to have to do a cursory check of lights, tyres, fluid levels and clean the vehicle at start of each day. This is obviously not the norm anymore as too many faulty lights on all types of vehicles. 10 minutes spent checking could save lives, the drivers as well as others.
I have this problem every time I drive at night. My car is 21 years old so lights are not very bright. I live in a rural area. When I`m approaching a bend, and see lights from an on-coming car, I flash my lights several times to give them advance warning. This almost never works which worries me that the on-coming driver is simply not paying attention to the road ahead – something, as a heavy vehicle driver, I was trained to do. The best thing to do is to look at the nearside kerb or verge so one is not blinded. The worst thing to do is to flash high beam at them, though I admit I am guilty of that too!
I find the big 4x4are the worst even on dip
Some years ago, the Swedes did some work on the quality of car headlights. They found that increasing the brightness of lights did not necessarily enable the driver to see more. The current fashion to have the brightest lights on the road is detrimental to good, safe driving. A return to yellow tinted lights which are easier on the eyes might be something to consider.
This discussion, along with the widespread (still) use of mobile phones whilst driving, needs far more airing on TV News and Ads etc; “Dip don’t Dazzle” used to be the saying! What’s also dangerous is the number of cars you see with one headlamp NOT working – often it’s the off-side light. If you can afford a car you can afford a replacement bulb, do it!
Hmm. My nearside dip bulb blew yesterday and my offside one blew today. Both were fitted at the same time so I suppose Mr Osram should get marks for consistency! Fortunately I ordered two last night and they’re due tomorrow so I can retire my foglamps again!
I ride a motorcycle all year and, yes. all cars cause blindness coming round a corner I am on so I have to back off in case of losing control.
Why do Audi feel the need to fit laser lights to their fast cars?
Poor headlight alignment is a big problem here, although this is supposed to be checked in an MOT I do not feel enough attention is paid to this by MOT stations.
i think Xenon’s or LED headlight units in modern cars aren’t really the issue. For me it’s as said above, drivers of cars with “standard “halogen headlights who them fit them with HID bulb upgrades. The law is quite clear on this, that the headlight unit must be designed for Xenon technology (i.e. a projector lens rather than open reflector) as well as automatic headlight leveling and headlight washers. It’s these chavs driving their base Fiesta’s and Corsa’s with these blindingly bright lights that are the main problem. Yet despite having quite a few people like this round my way, many of them drive straight pass Police patrol cars who don’t stop they as they either can’t be bothered or seem to have better hings to do..
A further problem I find is some Headlights, witch I think are possibly LED’s, even when dipped tend to glare more ,& unnecessarily Bright
Usually illegal e-bay HID conversions. The light source isn’t small enough so the optics can’t focus it correctly
There are more and more larger cars out there now, their headlights are higher and cause endless problems for people in smaller cars
Doesn’t matter what height the vehicle is as the beam pattern is adjusted to hit the road at the same point when dipped.
Actually it for matter as when someone is closer to you if they are in a tall vehicle their lights hit you at a higher point.
Especially when they have the brighter, white lights.
It also affects on multiple lane roads due to the brightlight in a side mirror.
SHOULD be adjusted = a lot of them are not! Especially tractors – so of them round here drive with the ploughing lights on too…
Your Lights are higher and they blind people in normal lower cars, (end off)
I was being badly dazzled,now the dark early evenings are here.I went to my optician and in a spare pair he put in a plain glass with an anti dazzle coating,now it is sheer bliss driving early evening onwards
I was seriously dazzled by cyclist on the pavement coming towards me on my left hand side. There must be new very bright front lights on the market. Very dangerous. Another example of arrogant selfish cyclists, and I speak as a cyclist myself.
This is true & often made worse by impatient drivers close behind with bright lights trying to push you to go faster than speed limits
I searched Amazon and bought Opticaid NIGHT SIGHT POLARISED NIGHT DRIVING OVER GLASSES, DESIGNED TO BE WORN OVER PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR. It has made a big difference for me and I now feel confident driving at night having avoided driving at night for the last few years.
Can you wear these without prescription eyewear?
Thanks for this, I’ve been to amazon and ordered a pair.
I agree with Jonathan, with larger cars coming at you or from behind, I find it had to see a times. Some lights need the alignment sorted and others are far too bright. I used to like driving at night more than daytime, now it’s the other way round!
Cars today have too many distracting things fitted as standard touch screens are one of the main distractions but it could be made that they are unable to be touched to do anything unless the car is stationary you have to look before you touch so take your eyes off the road if you take you eyes off the road it is an accident just waiting to happen
ever since the square head lights became the norm they dazzle other drivers . i remember the old round headlights which did not blind other drivers as for cyclists on the pavements should be put back on the roads there seems to be a lack of common sense nowadays
The proliferation of cars fitted with front fog lights is a nightmare also. I live in the countryside and our village is accessed by unlit, narrow lanes. So, coming round a bend to meet Joe90 with a an array of lights, dipped or otherwise is a regular occurrence. Modern cars have headlights which do not need additional lights for the driver to see perfectly well, so why do these people need their fog lights blazing? They blind me when combined with dipped headlights in these situations. Too few offenders are prosecuted for misuse of fog lights in my opinion.
How long does it take to recover from sitting in a queue behind a car that doesn’t a hand brake? And why do the brightest and highest cars always have to be the one’s without a hand brake?
In the Highway Code, it is illegal to bling a driver by leaving your brake lights on and this is especially bad in rain. I put my handbrake on every time I am stopped, but I leave the brake lights on until the car behind me has stopped, just so he knows that I am not moving.
I have commented on this issue with a motoring organisation I belonged to and was referred to automatic cars by a member and they intimated I had never driven an auto, I have and believe it or not, it did have a handbrake. They appeared to think you couldn’t use the handbrake.
You are right that all cars have a parking brake (hand brake). But in my car the button is tucked away somewhere where it is not convenient to use unless actually parked in which case you use a footbrake hold function which keeps the brake lights on.
It’s not that they don’t have a handbrake, it’s that the driver is an inconsiderate, idle arsehole.
Whilst this all so true, one part that’s not mentioned is dazzling light by badly adjusted headlamps, with one illuminating the stars and the other either correct or down too far.
Also the number vehicles with defective either by wiring or simply a blown bulb.
I have some positive news about this issue. Recently I purchased a pair of yellow coloured anti-glare glasses. Having tested them on two long journey recently (of more nearly 100 miles each) I have found that they work extremely well. I strongly recommend them because they significantly reduce glare and cost less than £5 including postage. Beware of much more expensive brands! My hope is that if you try them problems with glare will be be virtually nil.