Specialist motor insurance loss adjuster Claims Management & Adjusting (CMA), part of the QuestGates Group, has highlighted a worrying rise in headlight-related cases, including dazzling incidents and an emerging theft trend known as ‘eye-snatching’.
Philip Swift, Technical Director at CMA, commented: “Every year, at the start of autumn, there is an increase in glare-related claims – collisions caused by drivers being momentarily blinded by the low sun. Such incidents usually occur in the morning, especially if it has been raining overnight, or just before sunset. Those are the times to be extra vigilant but, if you should find yourself dazzled, the best advice is to slow down and focus on the lane markings.
“That said, dazzling is much more of a year-round issue these days, due to the brightness of modern LED headlights. Traditional halogen headlamps typically produced around 1,000 lumens, whereas the latest LED ones can produce up to 4,000. They emit a whiter light too, rather than the yellow of halogens, which seems to exacerbate the dazzling threat.
“Research by the RAC found that 89% of drivers believe some car headlights are now too bright. In April, the previous government commissioned research into the issue, which we would like to see continue. Like other distraction-related incidents, dazzling can result in serious collisions. Often though, they are relatively minor solo efforts – like scraping a barrier or hitting a big pothole – resulting in little more than inconvenience, embarrassment and the loss of a no-claims bonus.
“Aside from glare, the other main light-related issue is eye-snatching – damage caused by thieves targeting the headlight assemblies of premium cars. These high-tech units can easily be worth hundreds of pounds, even several thousand on luxury cars like the Bentley GT or Porsche Panamera.
“Such attacks are rudimentary but effective – rip out the front lights and leave quickly. While unlikely to result in write-off, due to the expensive profile of the vehicles concerned, these are costly repairs. A bit like catalytic converter thefts, it’s another disturbing automotive crime trend which piles on the pressure to increase insurance premiums. It also presents yet another headache for our already overwhelmed constabularies.”
RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “We are delighted to see a commitment from the new Government that independent research into the issue of dazzling headlights is being commissioned, especially with darker evenings now on the way. We hope it leads to a better understanding of what is a complex problem, but one that is undoubtedly affecting drivers up and down the country – in fact, more drivers have contacted us with their concerns about this topic than any other in recent times. We’ve worked hard over a number of years to raise this topic on drivers’ behalf and now look forward to supporting the Department for Transport in this piece of work.”
Baroness Dianne Hayter said: “For anyone who suffers from headlight glare and wonders what is being done about it, this will be a very welcome announcement. We know some drivers have stopped driving at night, and we know concern about dazzle isn’t only felt by drivers in the UK but further afield as well. Getting to the bottom of these issues and deciding a way forward is extremely important.”