With the clocks changing this weekend the evening commute will be mostly in the dark from next week. However, some older motorists avoid night driving altogether, in part due to headlight glare. Headlight glare is a common concern among UK drivers who raise concerns about the safety of modern vehicle lighting. Many suspect LED headlights are the main culprit, but it appears that there are many contributing factors. We shine a light on the main issues.

LED headlight misalignment

Correctly fitted LED headlights offer many benefits including less power usage than halogen bulbs and a colour temperature closer to daylight thus reducing fatigue when driving in the dark. However, the service and repair sector has struggled to keep up with the switch to LED, largely due the cost of the new equipment and training needed.

Accurate alignment is much more complex than with older halogen systems, especially when the cars include Auto High Beam Assist or Adaptive Dynamic Lighting. This is leading to more misaligned headlights on UK roads and therefore more headlight glare.

More SUVs on the road

SUVs, now the most popular type of car, typically have headlights mounted higher than other cars, causing glare to drivers with lower cars in front. And when you combine their height with the wider beam pattern of LED lights, even slight misalignment can cause significant glare dazzling oncoming traffic.

Substandard halogen bulbs

While LED bulbs sales have gone up, most bulb sales for headlamps are still halogen bulbs. But according to lighting and automotive electrics supplier Ring poor-quality halogen bulbs, that do not meet necessary standards, are being fitted leading to an increase in headlight glare.

Vehicle bulbs used on the exterior of a vehicle must comply to ECE Regulation 37 that details exact specifications such as light output, minimum and maximum levels, so drivers can see safely, and other road users are not dazzled by headlight glare. However, their study found that there are bulbs being sold in the UK that are not compliant with current legislation and are therefore not road legal.

What’s more LED bulbs are being retrofitted to headlamps designed for halogen bulbs. These LEDs are another likely contributor to headlight glare as the headlamp unit was not designed to work with the light output from LED bulbs.

Following pressure from motoring bodies the Department for Transport has commissioned a study into headlight glare, which is a positive step. The UK Government will consider its recommendations before the end of 2025. Watch this space.

If you’d like to have your car lights checked, or bulbs changed using original parts, just give us a call on 01202 694758 or email us at info@star-tech.co.uk. We have the latest ADAS calibration equipment to make sure your headlights are aligned correctly.