• 19% of drivers – nearly one in five – have steered away to avoid the glare of headlights from a car coming towards them
• 55% say headlight glare makes driving at night feel more dangerous and 45% it is a worsening issue
• Only 8% believe brighter headlights are making driving safer, shows January’s Startline Used Car Tracker

January’s Startline Used Car Tracker also shows 55% believe headlight glare makes driving at night feel more dangerous and 48% have had to slow or stop their car because of the issue.

Also, 47% say it often takes their eyes several seconds to recover from being dazzled, 32% say the height of headlights on SUVs makes the problem worse, and 30% say it makes them less likely to drive in the dark.

Overall, 81% say headlight glare is a problem, and 45% believe it is worsening.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Only 8% of motorists in our research believe the brighter headlights fitted to modern cars are making driving safer and that the better visibility they offer outweighs the possibility of being dazzled.

“That’s quite a damning verdict on the newer technology being used. Especially, the finding that one in five drivers have actively swerved out of the way of an oncoming vehicle because of glare is worrying.”

He added that the government is expected to include measures to tackle worsening headlight glare in its new road safety strategy, set to be announced soon.

“It appears motorists would wholeheartedly support this move. Glare is an issue they believe is making driving more dangerous and even causing them to use their car less at night because they feel less safe. Change is necessary.”                                                             

The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 303 consumers and 60 dealers were questioned.