A new AAA survey reveals a growing concern among drivers: headlight glare. Six in ten drivers say glare is a problem after dark, and nearly three-quarters of those affected believe it has worsened over the past decade. The findings are renewing concerns about road safety, headlight regulations, and modern lighting standards.
“Headlight glare at night is far more than a minor annoyance and is a growing concern for millions of motorists,” said Jim Garrity, director of public affairs, AAA East Central. “Excessively bright headlights can temporarily impair vision, reducing a motorist’s ability to detect hazards, stay in their lane, or safely navigate dark roads.”
Glare Problems Are Worsening
Headlight glare continues to worsen for U.S. drivers, with 73% of those who experience it saying the problem has intensified over the past decade. Driven by several factors including new headlight technologies and taller vehicle designs, drivers are becoming frustrated with the issue of headlight glare. Most drivers who experience glare cite oncoming headlights as the primary cause, with 92% identifying it as their top concern. About one third also report glare issues in their rearview or side mirrors.
At the same time, AAA’s latest testing shows significant progress in nighttime pedestrian automatic emergency braking (PAEB) performance, with impact avoidance improving from 0% in 2019 to 60% in 2025. Some of this increase could be due to improved sensor visibility due to headlight design.
Additional Survey Findings:
- Drivers who wear prescription glasses (70%) experience more glare than those who do not (56%).
- Pickup truck drivers are less likely to report glare (41%) than drivers of other vehicle types (66%).
- Female drivers (70%) report glare more often than male drivers (57%).
- Age alone does not show a statistically significant impact on likelihood to report glare being an issue.
- The height of the driver does not significantly influence the likelihood of experiencing glare.
AAA Encourages Driver Awareness and Safer Nighttime Driving
AAA is committed to helping drivers stay safe. To help reduce headlight glare and improve overall nighttime visibility, AAA recommends drivers:
- Ensure both headlights are clean, fully functional and of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) design.
- Avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights to maintain visibility.
- Visit an AAA Approved Auto Repair facility or NAPA Auto Care Center for professional headlight inspections, replacements, and aim adjustments.
- AAA will continue to research the topic and provide recommendations to industry on how we can work together to balance the ability to safely see the roadway with the growing concerns around headlight glare.
Methodology
The survey was conducted February 5-8, 2026, using a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. household population overall. The panel provides sample coverage of approximately 97% of the U.S. household population. Most surveys were completed online; consumers without Internet access were surveyed over the phone.
A total of 1,092 interviews were completed among U.S. adults, 18 years of age or older. The margin of error for the study overall is +/- 4% at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups have larger error margins.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 69 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. AAA East Central provides services to its members including Automotive, Insurance, Discounts & Rewards, Financial, and Travel. Find out more about AAA Membership and current savings here.
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