Over 20 million UK drivers are breaking the Highway Code's headlight flashing rule

Key takeaways

• New research reveals 35% of drivers don't know what setting their headlights are on 

• 20 million drivers say they have flashed another driver who had their headlights on too bright 

• Drivers of Tesla and Honda cars are most likely to be driving with headlights on the wrong setting

As daylight hours start shrinking and motorists spend more time driving in the dark, new research reveals widespread confusion among motorists about headlight settings and growing frustration over glare from other vehicles. 

We conducted a study of over 1,200 UK motorists and found that over three quarters (77%) of drivers have been dazzled by other motorists’ headlights.

The study also reveals that more than 14 million drivers* (35%) say that they have felt confused about what setting their own headlights are on, for example, full beam, automatic or dipped.

Rule 110 of the Highway Code states that drivers “should only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there, and not to convey any other message or intimidate other road users”.

However, the research reveals that almost half of drivers (48%) have flashed another motorist to let them know their headlights are too bright.

More than one in five drivers (22%) say they now avoid driving at night due to headlight glare.

Tesla drivers are the most ‘flashed’ car brand 

Our study found that 34% of all drivers say they have been on the receiving end of a headlight flash for having their headlights too bright, with Tesla drivers most likely to be flashed for this reason (50%). This was followed by Honda drivers (37%) and Fiat drivers (29%). 

Interestingly, Tesla drivers are also most likely to say they are confused over their vehicles’ headlight settings (47%). 

On the other hand, Vauxhall drivers were least likely to be flashed by other motorists for having their headlights too bright (11%), followed by drivers of Renault (13%) and Seat (14%) vehicles. 

What does the Highway Code say? 

The research highlights the confusion and frustration on UK roads when it comes to headlights, and rule 114 of the Highway Code states: “You must not use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.” 

The Highway Code also advises that in stationary queues of traffic, drivers should use their parking brakes, and once the following traffic has stopped, drivers should take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle's brake lights to minimise any glare to road users behind you. 

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Be mindful of other motorists

With so many cars now running automatic or adaptive headlight systems, it's easy to assume your lights are doing the right thing for other road users when they might not be, and our research shows that over a third of drivers are confused about their own headlight settings. 

Excessively bright headlights can dazzle other road users and increase the risk of an accident, but there are ways to ensure you don’t dazzle anyone accidentally. 

If you are unsure about your headlight settings, take a few moments to check your vehicle handbook or dashboard settings before setting off in the car, rather than relying on automated settings. And if you do get dazzled by someone else, the safest thing to do is to slow down and pull over if necessary.

_Sources

^{MoneySuperMarket commissioned a survey over 1,292 UK motorists, split by age, location, gender and brand of car they drive. Data correct as of September 2026. 
Participants in the survey were asked if they ‘have ever been flashed by another driver for having their headlights too bright’. From this, 34% overall said yes, and the figures were then analysed by car brand as presented in the press release. 
Individual marque responses based on a minimum base of 30 respondents.} 

^{*Figures based on over 42 million people currently possessing a complete UK driving licence, according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA): https://www.driving.org/record-high-uk-driving-licence-holders-soar/.}