CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – A new AAA national survey found drivers are increasingly having trouble with headlight glare at night.
According to the survey, six out of 10 drivers reported glare is a problem at night and, of those, nearly three-quarters said it’s gotten worse over the past decade.
“Some of it’s new lighting technology such as more intense LED systems combined with taller vehicle designs are contributing to a worsening glare and coming right into the eyes of some drivers,” AAA MidAtlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean said.
The findings, surveyors said, “are renewing concerns about road safety, headlight regulations, and modern lighting standards”.
Most drivers who experience glare cite oncoming headlights as the primary cause, with 92% identifying it as their top concern.
About one third also report glare issues in their rearview or side mirrors.
Drivers who wear prescription glasses at 70% experience more glare than those who don’t at 56%.
Female drivers at 70% report more glare than male drivers at 57%.
Age is not a statistical factor.
Drivers overwhelmingly reported the problem worse on two-lane roads at 75% than highways at 50%.
Dean said there are things motorists can do to avoid being impacted by glare and cut down on their impact on other drivers.
“Check your headlights, make sure they’re clean, functional, and in the original design for your vehicle,” Dean said. “Avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights to maintain your visual focus, and schedule a professional checkup and have them inspect your headlights, replace it if needed, and make sure it’s properly aimed.”
Dean said AAA will continue to research the topic and provide recommendations to industry on working together to balance the ability to safely see the roadway with the growing concerns around headlight glare.
