Yahoo UK’s poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week’s hot topics. After the poll closes, we’ll publish and analyse the results each Friday, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers.
The government is examining if car headlights are too bright after a wave of complaints from motorists and campaigners.
Lilian Greenwood, the minister for the future of roads, said last week that research is underway to look into how headlight glare is affecting British drivers.
Two separate surveys published last year revealed how big the issue has become for UK motorists, with 76% of drivers telling The AA they are being dazzled by the headlights of oncoming vehicles and 85% telling The RAC that the problem is getting worse.
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Graeme Downie, the Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, submitted a written question in parliament about the safety of LED headlights after two separate surveys showed they were an issue for motorists.
Downie said: “I have heard from constituents, as well as from family and friends and my own experience driving round the constituency that cars with newer LED lights can be blinding for other road users.
“While they might illuminate the road well for the driver, they dazzle in the eyes of other road users and could be dangerous.”
In a written reply, Greenwood said: “National collision statistics, which can record headlamp dazzle as a contributory factor, do not show any discernible trend to suggest that advances in lighting technology are contributing negatively to road vehicle collisions.
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“However, noting increased public concern, government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare and develop potential countermeasures. This work is underway and is due to deliver in summer 2025.”
Are car headlights too bright these days? Tell us why you voted the way you did and we may feature your comment in our results article on Friday.
Dazzling headlights were a contributing factor in 216 incidents in 2023, according to the Department for Transport, an increase from 211 the previous year but down from 315 in 2017. The worst affected areas were Kent and Surrey, with 11 collisions each involving bright headlights.
What are the UK laws on car headlights?
According to the Highway Code, drivers must use headlights at night and when visibility is seriously reduced.
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It states that motorists must not “use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users”.
In addition, front or rear fog lights must not be used unless visibly is seriously reduced.
“You must switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users,” says the code.
Come back on Friday to read the results and analysis via the link below.
Read more of Yahoo UK’s Poll of the Week articles
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