14:51 25-10-2025

What IIHS data says about headlight glare and night crashes

IIHS reviewed 24M crashes and found headlight glare causes just 1–2 per 1,000 at night. LED and adaptive headlights cut risk, helping older drivers too.

Fresh research from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests that complaints about blinding headlights don’t square with the data. According to the institute, just 1–2 out of every 1,000 nighttime crashes are tied to oncoming glare. At the same time, headlight brightness and output have risen in recent years, while crashes attributed to poor visibility have actually declined.

IIHS president David Harkey noted that glare may be irritating, but the bigger safety threat is unlit stretches of road. After reviewing nearly 24 million crashes across 11 states, the institute found no increase in glare-related incidents despite the wider use of LED technology. Taken together, the numbers cut through the noise: brighter lights have not sparked the surge some drivers expect, and the real problem is the darkness between them.

The greatest risk falls on drivers over 70 and owners of older cars, especially on wet rural roads. IIHS urges automakers to expand the use of adaptive headlights and lane-keeping systems, which could reduce such crashes by more than half. Modern models already come equipped with these features, making night driving both calmer and safer—and suggesting that smarter lighting, not dimmer beams, is what truly moves the needle.