Ministers will seek to overhaul international regulations on car and van headlights in a bid to tackle the growing problem of drivers being dazzled by glare on the roads.
The impact of glare on drivers has dramatically increased in recent years as carmakers use more powerful LED lights in their headlights.
The Government has vowed to tackle the issue, and the Department for Transport is due to publish its initial research into the impact of headlamp glare in the coming weeks.
It forms part of plans to launch the first Road Safety Strategy in a decade, as ministers aim to address the growing concerns of road users over headlamp glare.
Government sources said the new strategy will then be taken to the UN, where ministers will aim to press for changes in international rules that govern what type of lights are used in new vehicle models.
Car manufacturers are increasingly turning to LED bulbs to power headlights, which often produce a whiter, more powerful and direct beam that can dazzle drivers in oncoming traffic. The trend toward SUVs, which sit higher on the road than conventional cars, can also lead to glare in rearview mirrors.
Automatic headlamp control in newer models, which adjust the beam without the control of the driver, have also been blamed for the increase in glare on the roads.
DfT is seeking crackdown on illegal headlights
The problem is exacerbated during the winter months when the roads become darker earlier, while DfT insiders said the Government is seeking to crackdown on the sale of more powerful headlamps that are illegal that can be found online.
A DfT spokesman said: “We know headlight glare is frustrating for many drivers, especially as the evenings get darker. That’s why we commissioned independent research to better understand the causes and impact of glare, which will inform new measures in the upcoming Road Safety Strategy.
“Alongside this, DVSA has stepped up surveillance to intercept the sale of illegal retrofit headlamp bulbs for on-road use, and anyone caught could face a fine of up to £1,000.”
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Earlier this year, polling of AA members showed that three-quarters said they were being “blinded” by new, more powerful car headlamps, with a separate study by the RAC showing that four in five drivers were being affected by headlight glare and said the situation was getting worse.
Officials figures, however, show that collisions from dazzling headlights has not significantly increased on previous years, and the 216 collisions caused by headlamp glare in 2023, was down from the 309 a decade ago.
According to the RAC, LED lights are brighter than traditional halogen headlights and emit a greater amount of lumens per watt than the older types of lights. The brighter, whiter type of lights from LEDS, which mimic natural daylight more closely also has an impact when it comes to glare.
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