A new analysis from Chaikin Trial Group examines a question that affects nearly every American driver: why do some people experience headlight glare as a minor nuisance while others face a genuine safety threat. The study uses federal crash records, population data, and research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to map where glare related crashes occur and who is most vulnerable. The findings reveal a pattern that is less about the brightness of modern headlights and more about the uneven conditions in which drivers encounter them.
Between 2019 and 2023, federal crash data shows 46,154 fatalities in nighttime crashes on unlit roads. Of those deaths, 446 were linked to glare that impaired a driver’s vision. This represents roughly one percent of all nighttime fatalities in non lighted conditions. While the percentage is small, the distribution of these crashes is not random. Certain states and demographic groups face significantly higher risks than others.
The study’s central insight is that glare related crashes cluster where three conditions overlap. These include older drivers, older vehicles, and roadways that offer little margin for error. This creates a visibility gap that modern headlight improvements have not fully closed.
Where Glare Related Fatalities Concentrate
Chaikin Trial Group compared glare related deaths across states and adjusted the numbers for population size. This reveals which states experience glare related fatalities at rates higher than expected.
Top States for Glare Related Fatalities Adjusted for Population
| State | Fatalities | 2023 Population | Fatalities per 100,000 |
| Alabama | 19 | 5,117,673 | 0.37 |
| Kentucky | 17 | 4,512,310 | 0.38 |
| Virginia | 19 | 8,715,698 | 0.22 |
| Indiana | 16 | 6,833,037 | 0.23 |
| North Carolina | 18 | 10,835,491 | 0.17 |
| Georgia | 20 | 11,064,432 | 0.18 |
| California | 50 | 39,198,693 | 0.13 |
| Illinois | 16 | 12,549,689 | 0.13 |
| Florida | 30 | 22,904,868 | 0.13 |
| Texas | 30 | 30,727,890 | 0.10 |
The three largest states California, Texas, and Florida appear on the list because they have the most drivers and vehicles. Their placement is expected. What stands out are states like Alabama and Kentucky, where fatality rates are significantly higher than population size would predict. These states show a disproportionate number of glare related deaths, suggesting that local conditions amplify the risk.
The study identifies one demographic factor that strongly influences these numbers. Drivers aged 65 and older accounted for 108 glare related fatalities during the study period. Age related changes in vision make this group more vulnerable to glare and slower to recover from sudden brightness.
States With the Highest Glare Related Fatality Rates Among Drivers 65 and Older
| State | Fatalities | 65+ Population | Fatalities per 100,000 |
| Alabama | 5 | 932,119 | 0.54 |
| Arizona | 5 | 1,437,731 | 0.35 |
| Virginia | 5 | 1,498,931 | 0.33 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 1,915,356 | 0.31 |
| Florida | 13 | 4,917,782 | 0.26 |
| Indiana | 3 | 1,181,568 | 0.25 |
| Texas | 10 | 4,194,990 | 0.24 |
| Illinois | 5 | 2,205,830 | 0.23 |
| Georgia | 3 | 1,699,250 | 0.18 |
| California | 9 | 6,311,919 | 0.14 |
Alabama again ranks at the top, with a fatality rate far higher than larger states. Florida, which has one of the largest older driver populations in the country, also ranks high. These patterns show that glare related crashes are not simply a function of headlight brightness. They reflect how different populations interact with the same technology under different conditions.
How Glare Disrupts Driver Behavior
To understand how glare contributes to crashes, the study incorporates findings from an IIHS analysis of 220 nighttime crashes between 2017 and 2024. The data shows that most glare related crashes involve oncoming headlights.
Sources of Glare in Studied Crashes
- Oncoming headlights: 88 percent
- Headlights from trailing vehicles: 8 percent
- Headlights from lateral or parked vehicles: 4 percent
The same study identified the driver actions most commonly linked to glare related crashes.
Driver Actions in Glare Related Crashes
| Driver Action | Percent of Cases |
| Lane departure to the right | 45 percent |
| Impeding object obscured | 23 percent |
| Misjudging a turn | 15 percent |
| Lane departure to the left | 12 percent |
| Other | 4 percent |
These patterns show that glare often disrupts a driver’s ability to maintain lane position or see obstacles in time to react. The issue is not only brightness but the interaction between brightness, road design, and driver physiology.
Why Modern Headlights Are Not the Main Problem
The study also examines how LED headlights compare to older halogen systems. IIHS research shows that vehicles with good rated headlights are involved in fewer nighttime crashes than those with poor rated headlights.
Crash Reductions Linked to Headlight Quality
- Good rated headlights: 19 percent fewer nighttime single vehicle crashes
- Good rated headlights: 23 percent fewer nighttime pedestrian crashes
- Acceptable headlights: 15 percent reduction
- Marginal headlights: 10 percent reduction
LED headlights illuminate more of the roadway and maintain brightness longer than halogen lights. They also tend to earn higher safety ratings. The data shows that improvements in headlight design have not increased glare related crashes. Instead, they have reduced overall nighttime crash risk.
How Headlight Quality Has Improved
The IIHS headlight rating program began in 2016. At that time, only one of more than 80 tested headlight systems earned a good rating. Since then, automakers have made significant improvements.
Changes in Headlight Ratings Over Time
- By 2025, 51 percent of tested headlights earned a good rating
- Only 16 percent were rated marginal or poor, compared to 82 percent in 2016
- Excessive glare was found in 21 percent of headlights tested in 2017
- By 2025, only 3 percent produced excessive glare
Manufacturers have also reduced the number of headlight systems offered per model by 17 percent between 2019 and 2021. More vehicles now come standard with a single good rated headlight system.
Where Glare Related Crashes Happen Most Often
IIHS research across 11 states shows that glare related crashes most often involve the following conditions.
- A single vehicle
- Wet or rainy roads
- Local undivided two lane roads
- Lower speed limits
- Drivers over age 65
- Older vehicles
These conditions create a visibility environment where even moderate glare can become hazardous. The issue is not the brightness of modern headlights alone but the combination of aging infrastructure, weather, and driver vulnerability.
How Drivers Perceive the Problem
A United Kingdom study by the Royal Automobile Club provides additional insight into how drivers perceive headlight brightness. Although the study is international, the findings reflect concerns similar to those expressed by American drivers.
Driver Perception Data
- 89 percent believe some headlights are too bright
- 74 percent believe headlight dazzle is common
- 67 percent have slowed down to recover from glare
- 64 percent have worried about a crash due to glare
- 16 percent avoid driving at night because of glare
- 65 percent say it takes one to five seconds to recover after being dazzled
In the United States, more than 78,000 people signed a petition in early 2026 calling for restrictions on overly bright headlights.
Maintenance and Technology Gaps That Increase Glare
The study highlights several factors that worsen glare even when headlights meet safety standards.
Vehicle Condition Factors
- Cloudy or oxidized headlight lenses can reduce illumination by up to 80 percent
- These same lenses can increase glare by up to 60 percent
This means that older vehicles, which are more common in rural and lower income areas, may produce more glare and provide less visibility at the same time.
A Visibility Problem, Not a Technology Problem
The data shows that glare related crashes are relatively rare, accounting for no more than two out of every thousand nighttime crashes. But the risks are not evenly distributed. Older drivers, older vehicles, wet roads, and undivided local roads all increase the likelihood of a glare related crash.
Chaikin Trial Group’s study shows that modern headlights have improved safety overall. The issue is not that headlights have become too bright. It is that the conditions in which drivers encounter them vary widely. Visibility is shaped by age, infrastructure, weather, and vehicle condition. Until those gaps narrow, glare will remain a risk for certain drivers and certain places.
