The_Accessor_Autumn 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 10
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GLARE FROM
HEADLIGHTS
MOTOR
INSURANCE
TASKFORCE
CALLS FOR
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
According to a newly published report and a survey of drivers,
headlamps are perceived to be too bright and more than half of
drivers reported they have stopped or reduced driving at night
because headlights are dazzling them.
The report, from TRL, says vehicle lighting can cause glare to other
drivers. Regulations exist to limit the luminous intensity of headlamps,
and their aim, but drivers still report problems with glare, especially
when driving at night. Drivers have also reported problems with
speci昀椀c headlamp technologies such as LEDs, and in particular
situations such as when facing larger vehicles. In this project, two
pieces of work were undertaken to further understand the root causes
of glare in night driving on UK roads, and to propose solutions.
First, a survey was undertaken with 1,850 UK drivers matched to
the age and gender split of the licence-holding population. These
drivers answered questions about their own experiences of glare
when driving. Second, an instrumented trial car (left-hand drive) was
used to collect data from the usual driver eye position while driving at
night. Variables measured included levels of luminance, location, other
vehicles in the scene (through number plate recognition), the pitch
and roll of the trial car and subjective reports of glare from an observer
present in the trial car. Data were analysed using a machine learning
algorithm to uncover patterns and establish which variables were
associated with high levels of maximum luminance in the scene and
reported glare from the observer.
The survey 昀椀ndings indicated that the driving public perceive glare
from vehicle headlamps to be an important and widespread issue
when driving at night. More than half of drivers reported either having
stopped or reduced driving at night (or would if they could) due to
headlamp glare.
“FUNDAMENTAL
REVIEW OF THE
COSTS OF SPARE
PARTS”
The Motor Insurance Taskforce, set up by the
government in October 2024, is reported to be
looking at a “fundamental review of the costs of
spare parts”.
The Taskforce was set up to address rising
car insurance costs by identifying factors that
increase premiums and exploring solutions.
Speaking at the recent Insurance Innovators
Summit in London, Mark Bailie who is Group
CEO of BGL Group & CEO of Compare the
Market, and a member of the Taskforce, was
asked if there was anything he could say on the
group’s progress.
“We have undertaken some fairly detailed
analysis as we wanted to know how many
vehicles crash, why they crash, the force involved
in the crashes and the claims implications,” Mark
told the audience. “He said that the results had
moved them on to the underlying steps needed
to signi昀椀cantly reduce claims and this included a
fundamental review of the costs of spare parts.”
The taskforce includes departments such as the
Ministry of Justice and Department for Education,
plus the regulatory bodies the Financial Conduct
Authority (FCA) and Competition and Markets
Authority (CMA).
STEER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
ACQUIRES LLOYDS AUTOBODY
Steer Automotive Group has acquired Lloyds Autobody, an
established luxury vehicle repair specialist with sites in Liverpool and
Manchester.
This acquisition is “another strategic step” in Steer’s expansion within
the luxury vehicle sector, the UK’s largest independent bodyshop
group said, and further builds on The Steer Luxury Collection, which
includes Chartwell, M&A Coachworks, and the Steer Luxury sites.
Lloyds Autobody has “earned a strong reputation for its craftsmanship,
expertise, and dedication to delivering exceptional standards of repair
for some of the world’s most luxurious vehicle marques”, said Steer.
The business will continue to operate from its existing sites, supported
by Steer’s investment and operational infrastructure.
JOURNAL
10
THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL | AUTUMN 2025 | www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor
