Industry insiders advise that learning to use this fantastic feature properly can make a major difference when facing high-intensity light from blindingly bright vehicles
A little-known car feature helps prevent drivers being blinded by bright headlights when it’s dark outside, which could prove to be particularly practical as we hurtle towards the winter months.
With the autumn equinox having passed, signalling the official end of summer, UK motorists are in for far fewer daylight hours. With early mornings and evenings pitch black or close to, bright headlights from vehicles become much more noticeable.
Motoring expert Graham Conway from Select Car Leasing says many drivers are only just discovering that their rear-view mirrors have a ‘night mode’ — often referred to as the anti-glare switch.
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A surprising number of Brit drivers have never even heard of this feature, which is specifically designed to cut glare. Graham explained: “Car rear view mirrors are actually much more clever than you might realise. In most vehicles, the mirror itself is a wedge-shaped piece of glass that has, essentially, two surfaces.
“One is fully-reflective, the other is only partially reflective, and you can toggle between the two surfaces via a tab or button. During the day, the default position is fully-reflective.
“But when the sun goes down — when you risk being dazzled by headlights looming up behind you — you can switch to night shift mode, which brings the dimmer, less reflective surface into play.”
Learning to use this function properly can make a major difference when facing high-intensity light from other vehicles. Some newer cars go even further — certain models feature automatic dimming technology that adjusts the mirror to conditions without the driver having to switch manually.
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The expert continued: “Modern LED-based car headlights can appear much brighter than traditional halogen bulbs, so this is an important driving hack to be aware of. It could also be extremely useful if you’re driving with a large van or lorry behind you, as the higher headlight position of such vehicles can often lead to glare.”
However, if glare continues to cause trouble, experts warn it may be a sign of underlying eye conditions. Drivers who notice persistent problems are advised to book an eye test, as issues including cataracts can increase sensitivity to bright lights.
Expert Graham warned: “If headlight glare is blinding you, look towards the left edge of the road, try not to swerve, and give your vision time to recover by slowing down or coming to a complete stop. If you continue onwards with compromised vision, you actually risk being charged with an offence of careless driving, which attracts a minimum £100 fine and 3 penalty points.
“The fine could even rise to £5,000 in the most serious cases while you could be hit with nine penalty points. Don’t take the risk.”
As nights grow longer, a quick flick of this switch could help drivers stay safe behind the wheel, reducing dangerous dazzle on darker UK roads.
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