An RAC survey of 2,000 drivers found that 89% think at least some headlights on cars on the road today are too bright, of which 28% – a higher proportion than ever – think most are.
Of all these drivers who complain about the brightness of car headlights, some 91% say they get dazzled when driving with 74% saying this happens regularly.
When it comes to the effects of glare on drivers, 67% who suffer say they have to slow down considerably until they can see clearly again, while a similar proportion, 64% believe some headlights are so bright they risk causing accidents.
In fact, 5% of these drivers state they have nearly been involved in a collision themselves.
Alarmingly, 7% say they find headlight glare so bad that they avoid driving at night altogether, a figure that rises to 14% for drivers aged 65 and over.
While the RAC has been surveying drivers on dazzling headlights since 2018, these new findings show more drivers than ever appear to be suffering from them, with 85% of those affected stating they believe the problem is getting worse.
As part of its study, the RAC asked drivers to estimate how long it takes them to see clearly again after getting dazzled by other drivers’ lights. While 68% say it takes between one and five seconds, 11% say it takes six or more – which is enough for a driver travelling at 60mph to cover 160 metres, the equivalent of 40 car lengths.
The reasons could be as a result of the increasing prevalence of cars fitted with LED headlights, leading to a much more intense and focused beam that the human eye reacts differently to, compared to a conventional ‘yellower’ halogen bulb.
While LED headlights are great for improving a driver’s view of the road ahead, this can be to the detriment of other road users who encounter them.
However, 44% think the dazzling is caused by badly aligned headlights.
A FoI request submitted to the DVSA in November 2023 shows that since 2019, an average of 1.6m, or 5%, of Class 4 vehicles – which includes passenger cars – failed their MOTs as a result of poor headlight aim. What’s more, with the DVSA stating in 2016 that ‘headlamp aim consistently tops the MOT compliance survey as one of the most likely items to be assessed incorrectly by testers’, the actual figure could be much higher.
The increasing popularity of cars that sit higher on the road, especially SUVs, may also be a factor with those in conventional cars suffering the most, with 62% of conventional cars blame the dazzling on higher vehicles.
But whatever the causes of headlight glare, it is clear how strongly drivers feel about the issue with 81% saying more should be done to tackle it – a figure that rises to 87% among drivers aged 45 to 54.
Government collision statistics shows that since 2013, there has been an average of 280 collisions a year where dazzling headlights were a contributory factor, with six a year involving someone losing their life.
As a result of the sentiment among drivers, the RAC has raised the issue of headlight glare with the DfT and has been working with Baroness Hayter, to make drivers’ concerns known among Government officials.
The RAC provided details of its research to go into a report published last week and will be meeting with the Government this month to discuss it.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Our figures suggest drivers are more concerned than ever about headlight glare, with a huge proportion wanting to see something done about it.
“The numbers of reported road casualties where headlight glare was listed as a contributing factor might be small when compared to something like speeding, but that only tells part of the story.
"Is it right we have such a high proportion of drivers who feel unsafe when they’re driving at night, with some having even given up night-time trips altogether?”
Mike Bowen, Director of Knowledge and Research at the College of Optometrists, said: “We urge the Government to commission more technical and clinical research to have a better understanding of this issue and what should be done to ease the effects of dazzling headlights.”
Baroness Hayter said: “The RAC has demonstrated that some car headlights can dazzle, causing a danger for oncoming drivers. We know drivers in other countries share this concern.
"So, government should take action now to be on the side of road safety and ensure everyone keeps to the Highway Code, which states drivers ‘must not use any lights in a way which would dazzle other road users’.”
Source: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/rac-calls-for-government-action-on-headlight-glare/
A taxi driver has won his battle to fly the union jack on his vehicle as a mark of being a "proud Englishman".
BBC News reports that Basil Brockhurst, of Market Drayton, complained to Shropshire Council over the ban because he also wanted to show he is a "proud Shropshire man".
Mr Brockhurst, an army veteran, now wants to go further to display his regimental crest and the Poppy Appeal logo on his taxi.
He can now put a flag on his bonnet but also wants to display bigger ones.
The council's revised regulations now permit one union jack, no bigger than A4 in size, on a vehicle's bonnet.
Despite the victory, Mr Brockhurst said he "could not understand" the restrictions on the flag used.
He has been supported in his fight by his MP, Helen Morgan, and his councillor, Ian Nellins.
Mr Nellins said he knew Mr Brockhurst "very well" and used his taxi on a number of occasions.
"I was never aware of anybody who was offended by any of his flags, so when it was raised I did bring the amendment to the council to ask for something to be done," he said.
Mr Nellins said the ruling had "struck somewhere halfway", but he said Mr Brockhurst had to accept "we are a rules-based society, we have to have some form of control".
Mr Brockhurst has been told he will need the permission of the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion to display the regimental crest and the poppy symbol on his vehicle.
If permission is granted, he will then have to apply to the council to be allowed to use them, the authority said.
Mr Nellins said: "He had them on his taxi before, I didn't serve in the same regiment, but I wasn't offended to use his taxi because of that and I don't think anybody else in the Market Drayton area was either."
Nevertheless, he cautioned Mr Brockhurst: "One thing at a time."
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-67956973
A taxi driver who had been charged with having a knife and class A drugs in his car has been acquitted after a sheriff ruled that police had insufficient cause to stop and search him.
The Greenock Telegraph reports that Ian Callaghan was accused of being in possession of cocaine and a blade when he was pulled over by plain clothes officers in Port Glasgow last year.
A summary trial at Greenock Sheriff Court heard that the 55-year-old was detained at the Burger King drive-through after three PCs travelling in an unmarked car noticed a 'strong smell of cannabis' coming from the private hire Volkswagen Passat in front.
Prosecutor Kirstin Brierley dropped the charge relating to class A possession on the day of the trial, deciding instead to pursue a conviction on the alleged bladed weapon offence alone.
However, Sheriff Anthony McGeehan dismissed the Crown's case when he judged that a small lockback knife, which was found inside the cab and presented as evidence, was inadmissible as officers did not have reasonable grounds to carry out the search.
The trio of officers - two female constables and a male who is now a sergeant - took to the witness stand on Monday 8 January, to state that they noticed a smell of cannabis coming from Callaghan's grey Passat in the afternoon of May 17, 2023.
The first police witness, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the unmarked car behind, said: "We got a smell of cannabis and thought it was coming from this vehicle.
"The car was right in front of us.
"Both vehicles were moving and we had our windows open because it was quite a hot day. The Passat also had a window open.
"We called to request a marked car to attend but the vehicle came to a stop before it arrived.
"We wanted to establish if there was cannabis in the vehicle because it was a pretty strong smell."
Callaghan, who was the sole occupant, was detained for a search.
Nothing was found on him but a locking knife with a blade estimated at around 5cm in length was recovered in a black pouch from the central sunglasses holder inside his car.
No cannabis was found in the vehicle - despite the PC noting that the smell of the drug 'increased as we approached the car'.
The officer said Callaghan 'didn't appear to be under the influence' and as a result, a roadside DrugWipe test was not carried out.
The male sergeant testified to being alerted to a 'steady stream of cannabis' while travelling behind Callaghan's car for a few minutes.
However, he said he was 'satisfied that the driver presented lucid' and claimed the officers spent no more than ten minutes with Callaghan during the stop and search.
The third PC witness, who also described 'a strong smell of cannabis', contradicted her colleague's testimony and claimed they had been with Callaghan for around 40 minutes and that a strip search back at the police office had not been discussed.
She told the court a thorough search could not be completed in five or ten minutes.
Callaghan's solicitor, Amy Spencer, questioned the legality of the stop and search, and Sheriff McGeehan supported the solicitor's submission.
The sheriff said he was 'not satisfied from the evidence that officers had reasonable grounds for a search' and found Callaghan, from Greenock, not guilty of the charges.
Source: https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/24040920.taxi-driver-acquitted-sheriff-drugs-knife-trial/
A private hire driver from Cheshire West who did her council contract school run more than three times the legal alcohol limit has avoided jail.
According to the Chester Standard, a police officer driving to work called 999 after spotting Lacramioara Giurgea's white Kia Sportage – driving at 10mph down Dalefords Lane in Winsford, hitting the kerb, at 8.45am on Thursday, December 14 last year.
The officer followed the vehicle to a nearby street where it pulled up outside a house.
Uniform officers soon arrived and breathalysed Giurgea at the roadside.
The 46-year-old had 130 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is just 35.
She was arrested at the roadside, and when breathalysed again at Middlewich custody suite, blew 123 micrograms.
Giurgea, from Winsford, was working for Ian’s Taxis at the time, and was on a contracted school run.
She had already picked up the child’s escort, who was in the car, and was about to pick up the child when she was stopped by police.
Giurgea appeared before Chester magistrates on Wednesday, January 11, where she pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
The court heard a verbal pre-sentence report from the Probation Service, which stated Giurgea has 28 years’ experience working as a taxi driver, ten in the UK and 18 in Romania.
She’s never had an accident in that time, the report added, and has regular drug and alcohol tests as part of her school’s contract, which she’s never failed.
Giurgea told the Probation Service she usually drinks only once or twice a month when she goes out to dinner with her husband, but on the evening before the offence, she got a phone call from a relative in Romania telling her that her mum had suffered a heart attack.
Encouraged by her husband, she drank alcohol ‘for the shock’, the report stated, adding: "She had no real idea how much she’d drunk."
Defending, Selina Woodward said Giurgea had already lost her job and was now unemployed, and if she was sent to prison immediately, there’s a good chance she and her husband would lose their home.
Miss Woodward said her client has no previous convictions, and ‘knowns full well the risks she posed to her passenger, the public, and herself’.
Giurgea was ‘full of remorse’ and spent two weeks in bed unable to talk after the incident, she added.
Passing sentence, lead magistrate, Jon Sankey, said: “This offence falls into the highest category as your alcohol level was so far above the limit.
“You also had an escort from the local authority’s children’s services in the car with you at the time.
“There was no child in the car, but there would have been, had you not been stopped in time.”
Giurgea was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.
She was also banned from driving for 29 months, with the option to reduce the ban by five months if she takes a drink driving awareness course.
She was also ordered to pay £120 costs and £154 victim surcharge.
A taxi provider has urged customers to be vigilant after witnessing a car attempting to act as a cab.
According to the North Wales Chronicle, the Premier Group North Wales, which covers Bangor and South Anglesey, asked customers to be "careful" and shared the experience of one of their drivers.
They posted a public warning on social media: "Today (January 10) one of our drivers witnessed this vehicle and driver attempting to act as a taxi and take passengers from Asda.
"To clarify what was going on, we spoke to a member of public who was phoning us for a taxi when approached by this male. She confirmed he offered to take her.
"The female member of public was wise enough to note that the vehicle had no taxi markings or vehicle licence plates and refused.
"Please be careful when waiting for a taxi. If there is any doubt do not travel take a picture if you can of the vehicle and driver.
"Most companies and owner drivers in Bangor are genuine and I'm sure not one of the genuine operators / drivers would have any issue with you requesting information to ensure you are getting in a licensed taxi."
The company confirmed to the Chronicle that they intend to report the incident to North Wales Police and are making efforts to contact Gwenan Mai Roberts, licensing manager at Gwynedd Council.
Source: https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/24041896.warning-driver-poses-taxi-outside-bangor-asda/
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.
Cleethorpes taxi drivers are breathing a sigh of relief after council enforcement officers cracked down on vehicles illegally parked in designated taxi ranks.
A Barry man has avoided jail after launching a drunken attack on a taxi driver who refused him entry to his vehicle.
Jersey’s taxi service is in crisis, with driver numbers plummeting by more than a quarter since 2014, a new report has revealed.
On Wednesday 27 July, more than 300 vulnerable youngsters were taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Southport.
Taxi drivers in the town will be able to charge passengers more following a decision by the borough council on 31 July.
A taxi driver has been sentenced to a community order after admitting causing the death of a pedestrian by driving at excessive speed.
A joint operation by council, police, and DVSA officials has seen three taxis taken off the road in Oldham due to safety concerns.
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex could soon be forced to accept card payments, following a surge in complaints about cash-only services.
Two men have avoided immediate jail time after a high-speed race left a taxi driver with serious injuries.
BYD, manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Uber, designed to bring 100,000 new BYD EVs onto the Uber platform across key global markets.
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.