It’s 7 p.m. and you’re driving on Petaluma Hill Road, when suddenly the road disappears and all you can see is the blinding glare from the oncoming Ford F-150’s lights. You flash your headlights to signal their high beams are on,only to realize that it’s just their headlights. This frustrating experience isn’t uncommon for many drivers given the popularity of modern LED headlights.
The switch from warmer, less blinding halogen lights, which used to be the standard headlights, has raised concerns over the dazzling and glaring effect of LEDs. The internet is full of people upset over the obnoxious brightness of modern car’s headlights. One subreddit, r/fuckyourheadlights, has more than 44,000 members who commiserate over unnecessarily bright headlights by posting photos of them.
Some of these images are so blinding it’s almost comedic. People often comment things like: “Is that you Jesus?” and “Don’t go into the light!” You know it’s a real problem when there’s a subreddit dedicated to putting people’s headlights on blast (no pun intended).
Headlight glare can be even more frustrating and dangerous for drivers who suffer from astigmatism, an eye condition that increases blurry vision and worsens at night. Fifth-year psychology and liberal studies student Hadley Colville says, “The way that the light expands through the window makes it impossible to see until the car passes.” Colville continues, “I want to go back to yellow headlights so I can see again!”
The concern over the danger of headlight brightness has prompted some advocacy groups, like The Soft Lights Foundation, to call for bans on LED headlights. This isn’t an issue just in the United States. After many complaints, in 2024 the United Kingdom’s government started investigating the safety concerns of headlight glare.
According to the United Kingdom’s government figures, since 2012 there have been an average of 279 collisions per year caused by dazzling headlights. Out of those collisions, six accidents per year resulted in a fatality.
In a survey conducted by the Royal Automobile Club, they found that of 2,000 U.K. drivers, 89% felt headlights were too bright. In response to these concerns, the United Kingdom’s Department of Transport agreed to new internatural rules to reduce headlight glare that will take effect in September 2027.
The United Kingdom’s been very proactive about combatting dangerous glare, while the United States has not passed legislation. The United States needs to start addressing this problem seeing as how 12% to 15 percent of all traffic accidents in the United States are caused by glare from high-beam headlights. Our government should heed the United Kingdom’s example and listen to the concerns of drivers.
I personally am not one to experience road rage frequently. However, when I’m driving and I can’t see because of the very things that are supposed to make it easier to see, I start screaming at cars! Given the number of people I’m starting to see with “F Your LEDs” bumper stickers, I know I’m not the only one ready for change!
