New study reveals how motorists react to headlamp glare

A new European study of night-time driving reveals that a majority of motorists have been dazzled by glare in their rearview mirrors caused by the headlamps of following cars. The study reveals that drivers adopt some obvious, but also some not-so-obvious – and potentially unsafe – strategies for tackling the issue.

More than half the 3,000 motorists questioned by TÜV Rheinland – an organisation which supports research and development in the automotive industry – said they had been ‘often’ or ‘very often’ bothered by headlamp glare; either from their interior or exterior rear view mirrors.

Not surprisingly the top avoidance strategy, adopted by two-thirds of motorists, was simply to adjust the position of their interior mirror. For exterior mirrors, the preferred tactic was to adjust the body position followed by a tilt of the head, but more than a third of drivers admit to tuning their exterior mirrors downward or outward in order to redirect the glare away from the eyes.

Another technique employed by a small number of motorists was to wear sunglasses. Other common practices include squinting (44 percent of motorists) or blocking the glare with their hand (21.3 percent). A small number (1.8 percent) would block the glare with whatever they were holding at the time.

The technical solution already available from carmakers is to offer automatic-dimming mirrors. Indeed, half the participants taking part in the study already had this feature fitted to their cars and were convinced it contributed to safety and helped prevent accidents. They felt less dazzled by the headlamps of other cars. They also cited improved concentration and less visual fatigue.

A key finding was that the majority of non-owners were unaware of automatic-dimming mirrors. A significant minority (27.5 per cent) of owners were oblivious to automatic-dimming mirrors already fitted when they purchased their cars.