UK Headlight Glare - New Safety Rules Explained

If you buy a new vehicle today, it will likely come with advanced LED systems or even laser-assisted technology. These better lighting systems will help you see further ahead and react more quickly to hazards at night. But did you know that LED car headlight bulbs have an unintended downside? The increased brightness of modern headlights can cause discomfort and distraction for other drivers on the road. You may have even experienced being blinded by an oncoming vehicle with LED or HID lights.

Why do modern headlights feel harsher?

HID and LED headlights produce significantly more light than traditional halogen bulbs, often delivering two to three times the lumen output. They also operate at different colour temperatures, with halogen bulbs offering a warmer, yellow-toned light in the 3000K to 3500K range. On the other hand, LEDs usually give you a cooler white or blue-tinged light, often between 5000K and 6500K.

While this cooler light can help you see road markings and hazards more clearly, oncoming drivers often perceive it as sharper and more intense. That’s because the blue-rich light scatters more inside the eye, increasing the sensation of glare. Older drivers may find this particularly uncomfortable, as ageing eyes tend to be more sensitive to this type of light.

If you own an SUV or another taller vehicle, your car headlight bulbs will be sitting higher off the ground. These elevated beams are more likely to shine directly into the eye line of drivers in lower cars or reflect strongly in mirrors.

What to expect from the new road safety strategy

The government is expected to address headlight glare in its upcoming road safety strategy. Among the likely changes are updates to international vehicle lighting regulations coordinated through the United Nations.

Independent research into the causes of glare has been underway for some time, and the findings are expected to inform the new strategy. The plan may also include further studies across different makes and models to better understand which design features contribute most to glare from modern car headlight bulbs on UK roads.

How the new safety rules will address headlight glare

The upcoming safety rules are expected to focus on the main causes of headlight glare seen on UK roads. One key issue is the wider use of brighter LED car headlight bulbs, which emit far more light than traditional halogen bulbs. Another factor is the sharp increase in SUVs and other taller vehicles.

Glare problems often happen when LED car headlight bulbs are installed in housings that weren’t designed for them. Older headlamp units in particular may not control the beam properly, causing excess light to spill upward and into the eyes of oncoming drivers. Because of this, upcoming safety rules are likely to focus not just on bulb brightness but also on how well headlamp designs manage and direct the light.

Don’t compromise on your vehicle’s roadworthiness

It’s also worth noting that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has increased checks on headlights during MOT tests. With unsuitable car headlight bulbs, you risk failing your MOT. Meanwhile, sellers of illegal bulbs could face fines of up to £1,000.

Get better roadworthy headlights

Is it time to update your headlights? Make sure every bulb complies with current and upcoming UK safety rules to avoid causing accidents or failing your MOT. At HIDS DIRECT, we make it easier for you to choose from a broad range of approved headlight and fog light bulbs from respected brands, including MTEC and Philips. As an authorised UK distributor for MTEC and Osram automotive bulbs, we supply genuine car headlight bulbs at competitive prices, with free next-day delivery available on orders over £100.