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Blinding Headlights? Most Glasses Offer No Relief
2 Apr
Summary
- Most anti-glare glasses failed to reduce glare or boost driver confidence.
- One brand significantly darkened surroundings, making it harder to see pedestrians.
- Only one pair, Tjutr flip-up clip-ons, offered noticeable glare reduction.
Drivers have increasingly complained about dazzling headlights from modern LED technology. Anti-glare glasses are marketed as a solution, but a recent study found most fall short. An investigation by What Car? tested six pairs of widely available anti-glare glasses.
Five of the tested pairs did not meaningfully reduce glare or increase driver confidence. Worryingly, one pair darkened the environment, hindering the visibility of pedestrians and unlit vehicles, and even increased driver stress levels, as indicated by heart rate monitoring.
Only the Tjutr flip-up clip-on glasses, costing £13.99, provided a noticeable reduction in headlight brightness and good visibility in dark conditions, receiving four out of five stars. In contrast, HeadLight glasses with 'Glarecut technology' at £19.99 offered poor anti-dazzle properties and made spotting roadside pedestrians difficult.
This study aligns with a 2019 ophthalmologist study that suggested yellow-tinted night-driving glasses did not improve pedestrian detection or reduce negative associations with headlight glare. Experts advise regular eye tests and anti-reflective lenses for prescription glasses as better alternatives.
