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Are car headlights too bright? Have your say
A written Parliamentary question has revealed that the government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare and develop potential countermeasures
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Concerns that modern car headlights are too intense have prompted a government investigation, following public complaints that some drivers are being left dazzled and blinded on the road. In 2023, excessively bright headlights contributed to 216 accidents.
Have your say! Do you find yourself dazzled or blinded by car headlights? Are there any particular types of vehicles that are the biggest problems? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.
According to the AA, its members have reported being "blinded" by LED lights on vehicles while driving, as stated by its president Edmund King. Labour MP Graeme Downie, who raised the question in Parliament, also cautioned that some drivers are "less aware of the impact their own lighting might have on others".
Data on national collisions reveals that dazzling headlights played a role in 216 incidents in 2023, with Kent and Surrey being the worst-affected areas, each experiencing 11 collisions. Although this number is up from 211 the previous year, it has decreased from 315 in 2017 and 309 a decade ago.
When questioned about the Department for Transport's assessment of LED headlight safety, Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated that statistics do not indicate any clear trend suggesting that advancements in lighting technology have negatively impacted road accidents.
The government anticipates independent research on headlight glare to be published this summer.
Mr King stated: "Our own research shows it is an issue for some drivers with three quarters saying they have been blinded by oncoming headlights. Our members tell us that they are feeling the strain of brighter headlights more than ever before, as well as brighter brake and traffic lights.
"Conversely, they also say brighter lights enhance road safety. The problem seems to be LED lights on higher vehicles such as SUVs. The Government-sponsored investigation into the use of LED lights on our roads should help clarify this issue further, as well as provide appropriate measures where needed."
Mr Downie, the MP for Dunfermline and Dollar in Scotland, told the PA news agency: "I have heard from constituents, as well as from family and friends and my own experience driving round the constituency that cars with newer LED lights can be blinding for other road users.
"While they might illuminate the road well for the driver, they dazzle in the eyes of other road users and could be dangerous. In addition, technology such as automatic beam control that is more common means some drivers are less aware of the impact their own lighting might have on others. The safety of individual drivers cannot be at the expense of other road users and pedestrians. I am glad this is something the Government is now looking at and I look forward to the results and what action can be taken to improve road safety."
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis remarked: "Few issues we deal with have triggered quite as much of a reaction among drivers as the brightness of headlights. It's clear that, for a proportion of the driving public, glare affects them profoundly on the roads at night. But while the frustration is evident, the causes of the problem and what can be done about it are much less clear. That's why the Government-funded project is so important."
In her response to Mr Downie, Ms Greenwood expressed: "National collision statistics, which can record headlamp dazzle as a contributory factor, do not show any discernible trend to suggest that advances in lighting technology are contributing negatively to road vehicle collisions.
"However, noting increased public concern, the Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare and develop potential countermeasures. This work is under way and is due to deliver in summer 2025."
Have your say! Do you find yourself dazzled or blinded by car headlights? Are there any particular types of vehicles that are the biggest problems? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.
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