Motorists urged to follow important tip to avoid dazzle causing accidents this winter
A driving expert has shared how motorists can stay safe when being followed by a vehicle with bright headlights, as drivers feel nervous travelling at night.
The car insurance price comparison site Confused.com has shared advice to help drivers stay safe if they are being dazzled by another motorist’s headlights.
As the RAC calls for the Department for Transport to restrict the brightness of vehicle headlights, many motorists have complained that they are being dazzled by the lights of drivers behind their vehicle through the rear-view mirror.
Louise Thomas, motor expert at Confused.com, noted that bright headlights can severely limit a motorist’s visibility, particularly during winter when the nights are longer.
She explained: “The winter months can be difficult for drivers, with darkness often causing poor visibility for many. In fact, our research found that two in five (18 percent) drivers struggle to see clearly driving when it’s dark.
“This could be down to a variety of factors, but things like bright LED headlights from other vehicles can cause problems.”
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Recently, the RAC published a survey which highlighted that 89 percent of UK motorists think that some headlights fitted to the latest cars are too bright.
To cope with the restriction in visibility, 67 percent of drivers claimed that they typically have to slow down until they are no longer dazzled.
Shockingly, the company noted that bright headlights are deterring some motorists over the age of 65 from getting behind the wheel at night.
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Louise advised that motorists being dazzled by other drivers should try their best to remain calm and pull the small tab at the bottom of the rear-view mirror to prevent glare.
She continued: “If you are dazzled by other cars when driving, the best thing to do is to slow down and drive carefully. But take care doing so if there are others driving behind you.
“And if you find it’s the car behind you which is dazzling, adjusting your rear-view mirror could help reduce glare. It also helps to keep your windscreens free of dirt as this often creates glare too.”