Home Money Are dazzling LED headlights going to be banned? Government confirms new study and ‘possible countermeasures’

Are dazzling LED headlights going to be banned? Government confirms new study and ‘possible countermeasures’

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Are dazzling LED headlights going to be banned? Government confirms new study and 'possible countermeasures'
  • New study on LED lights launched due to ‘public concern’ over safety

The Government has reported on the possible ban on dazzling with LED headlights.

Lilian Greenwood, Labor MP for Nottingham South and Minister for the Future of Roads, has confirmed to MPs that the Government is looking at “possible countermeasures” to address the ongoing problem of bright headlights.

The Government’s response to a recent Commons consultation comes amid growing safety concerns around the brightness of the new headlights and the impact on safety.

Jim Shannon of the Democratic Unionist Party asked the Secretary of State for Transport: “What assessment have you made of the safety suitability of LED headlights in cars (a) in general and (b) on rural roads?”

Greenwood responded on January 20 that a new study on the issue was being released, while acknowledging “public concern” about the safety of bright beacons.

Greenwood assured MPs in September that the inquiry into headlight glare, first announced by the Conservatives, would go ahead despite the change of power.

Responding to questions from MPs, Ms Greenwood said on January 20: “All types of road vehicle headlights are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognized standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety. on a wide range of roads and environments.

He continued: ‘However, noting growing public concern about headlight glare, the government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes and develop potential countermeasures.

‘This work is underway and will be delivered in summer 2025; It will include an assessment of real-world glare on a wide range of road types and scenarios, including rural roads.’

This latest update comes as the campaign against the use of bright LED bulbs grows, with a House of Commons petition calling for them to be banned, and coincides with new government surveys and research into the problem of headlight glare.

MP Lilian Greenwood confirmed:

MP Lilian Greenwood confirmed: “The Government has commissioned an independent investigation to better understand the root causes and develop potential countermeasures.”

The latest accident figures show an increase in car accidents involving dazzling headlights.

Data from National Collisions found that dazzling headlights contributed to 216 road incidents in 2023, up from 211 the previous year. Kent and Surrey reported 11 accidents in 2023 that were influenced by dazzling headlights.

Campaigners say brighter, more modern headlights are causing more problems for motorists “than ever before”.

Three quarters of drivers told the AA they were blinded by the headlights of oncoming vehicles, while 52 per cent had been dazzled by the headlights of cars behind them.

Although often seen as an older people’s problem, AA research countered this: 80 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds said they had been blinded by oncoming headlights.

Although glare from headlights is considered a

While glare from headlights is considered an “older people’s problem”, AA research contradicts this, with 80% of 18-24 year olds saying they have been blinded by oncoming headlights.

MP Douglas Chapman, who represents Dunfermline and Dollar, confirmed public concerns: “I have heard from constituents, as well as family and friends and from my own experience driving around the constituency, that cars with LED lights are more new ones can blind other road users.’

However, Ms Greenwood refuted the safety issue, writing: “National crash statistics, which may record headlight glare as a contributing factor, show no discernible trend to suggest that advances in lighting technology are negatively contributing to road vehicle collisions.

However, he confirmed that despite this, the independent inquiry is “underway” to address public concerns and is “due to be delivered in summer 2025”.

AA president Edmund King said: ‘The problem appears to be the LED lights on taller vehicles, such as SUVs.

“Government-sponsored research into the use of LED lights on our roads should help shed more light on this issue, as well as provide appropriate measures where necessary.”

Current research on headlight glare

The TRL, a subsidiary of the Transport Research Foundation, began a practical investigation into headlight glare in the last quarter of 2024.

The tests run in parallel with the The Department for Transport (DfT) aims to access the factors that can cause the headlights of oncoming vehicles to glare, including surrounding vehicles, weather conditions and ambient lighting.

The research results will be used to address the current problem of headlight glare.

This is Money has contacted the Department of Transport for comment.

Seven Ways to Limit the Impact of Glare and Avoid Dazzling Others

1737547898 26 Are dazzling LED headlights going to be banned Government confirms

1. Slow down at night

If the glare from an approaching vehicle at night is so intense that you temporarily cannot see anything, you should reduce your speed to reduce the risk of impact on your reduced visibility.

However, avoid slowing down or stopping abruptly, as you don’t want a car traveling behind you to crash into you.

2. Don’t look directly at oncoming headlights

To avoid being dazzled, never look directly into the headlights of other cars.

Look to the left side of the road and follow the white line marking the edge, if there is one, to be able to control your position, recommends the RAC.

3.Make sure your windshield is clear

Windshields are particularly susceptible to fogging on the inside, especially in cold weather, while car heaters can blow dirty air onto the glass, causing a hazy film to build up on the inside.

This can increase glare from oncoming headlights, so make sure yours is clean and clear.

4. Adjust your rearview mirror

Drivers at night should lower their rearview mirror to reduce the risk of being dazzled by following motorists.

Many new engines found in showrooms today have an auto-dimming rearview mirror feature. If your car does not do this, then you should lower the mirror manually.

5. Consider anti-glare glasses

If being dazzled by other drivers’ headlights or street lighting is a problem, drivers should consider anti-glare glasses when driving at night.

These are not simply yellow-tinted glasses, which can help reduce glare by making darker areas of the road less visible and are therefore not recommended.

spec savers has a product called SuperDrive lenses for varifocal wearers, while all of its glasses can be fitted with a ‘SuperClean Smart’ clear treatment, which is specially designed to help reduce reflections and glare caused by headlights and street lighting, which helps you have a safer experience. journey.

Drivers who experience glare at night should consult their optician.

6. Use low beams whenever possible to protect other drivers.

Use low beams instead of high beams when driving in well-lit areas or when approaching other vehicles, as high beams can significantly increase glare.

7. Periodically adjust your headlights

Make sure your headlights are aimed correctly, especially if you frequently travel with heavy loads, which can affect the height of the headlight beam.

Misaligned headlights not only help blind other drivers but will also reduce your own visibility.

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