Road safety experts have praised the development of a new consultation which aims to crack down on headlight glare and protect motorists, especially those who are more vulnerable, like the elderly.
Transport organisation TRL has started a practical trial to assess the conditions that drivers complain about glare from the headlights of oncoming vehicles.
TRL, which is owned by the Transport Research Foundation (TRF), is working with the Department for Transport and other key stakeholders to understand the factors that can cause glare and how to address them.
The project will run from October 2024 until the Spring of 2025 following the RAC’s headlight glare campaign on behalf of drivers.
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TRL will instrument a car and use it to measure light levels experienced by motorists during real driving on UK roads.
It will look at how other factors impact the car, including other vehicles, weather conditions and ambient lighting as mitigating factors.
It is hoped this will build a complete understanding of the conditions that are most likely to give rise to brightness levels and glare.
Following the testing, a review of scientific evidence and engagement with a range of stakeholders to generate “actionable recommendations” for the Department for Transport.
Commenting on the launch of the trial, RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis, said there are hopes that meaningful change will be made as a result of the test.
He said: “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.”
Speaking in September, Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport, confirmed that the DfT was looking into the issue of headlight glare.
She added: “The Government is in the process of commissioning independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare and help identify potential countermeasures.”
One of the potential testing measures could look at how different bulbs impact glare. It has been suggested that LED lights give off a more intense and focused light.
This could create issues for the human eye as it reacts differently compared to traditional and older “yellow” halogen bulbs.
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The trial will look at the different factors affecting headlight glare
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SUVs and other larger vehicles could also be to blame as the lights will be more towards the eyeline of other smaller vehicles, posing further issues.
Data from the RAC found that 85 per cent of drivers said they were impacted by headlight glare, with nine in 10 saying they are too bright and that the issue is getting worse.
