'White lines' tip will combat LED headlight glare while driving at night - Daily Record

Feb 21, 2025

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LED headlights have been under the spotlight recently amid rising concern drivers are being 'blinded' by them.

It's an issue that is being looked into by the government after campaigners said that nine in 10 drivers believe that at least some headlights today are too bright. AA president Edmund King said he believes the piercing headlights are a major contributing factor in collisions on the roads and a quarter of motorists say they avoid driving at night because of them.

While a ban on them has not yet been decided, motorists have no choice but to try and combat the intense glare. And one expert has suggested a tip that could help.

Saga car insurance product manager, Alison Ingram-Seal, said that drivers should try and use the white lines on the roads when driving towards very bright headlamps.

She said this tip prevents you from staring directly at the beam and allows you to stay on course. "Use the road markings," she advised.

"Avoid looking directly into oncoming headlights, instead focus on the white centre lines to avert your gaze." This trick helps you to keep track of your position until you are past the headlights.

And others agree that this is the best course of action to combat being blinded and possibly avert an accident. Posting on reddit one driver said: "I learned this 12 years ago from my driving instructor, who was also a cop.

"This works especially well on country roads that have bad or no street lighting as oncoming cars completely blind you to your lane but if you just focus on that white line, you can see it really easily and can stay on course."

Alison has four other tips for drivers that struggle with glare from LED headlights. She suggests adjusting your mirrors. Most interior mirrors can be set to an anti-dazzle position. That normally involved moving the rear view mirror upwards and backwards so it is angled towards the ceiling of the vehicle.

She also suggests to make sure your front and rear windscreens are clean and streak-free and to replace windscreen wipers every 6-12 months. Futhermore, she recommends reducing your speed and getting regular eye checks. Wearing anti-glare glasses can help too.

The Department of Transport will deliver its findings into LED headlights in the summer. Meanwhile thousands of fed-up drivers have signed a petition to ban LED headlights on vehicles.

And those motorists who have LED lights have been urged to take some steps as a courtesy to other road users. They have been asked to make sure to check the alignment of their headlights and to clean them regularly.

The RAC has said it is increasingly receiving complaints about the issue and said the company now hears more complaints about headlights than potholes.