Minister seeks to ease road safety concerns over brighter LED headlights
Motorists are “feeling the strain” of brighter headlights “more than ever before”, campaigners have said after a transport minister sought to ease road safety concerns.
Lilian Greenwood, asked for the Department for Transport’s assessment of the safety of LED headlights, said statistics “do not show any discernible trend to suggest that advances in lighting technology are contributing negatively” to road vehicle collisions.
But AA members have told the organisation that LED lights on vehicles are among the factors causing them to be “blinded” while driving, according to its president Edmund King.
Labour MP Graeme Downie, who asked the written question in Parliament, also warned that some drivers are “less aware of the impact their own lighting might have on others”.
Dazzling
According to national collisions data, dazzling headlights were a contributing factor in 216 incidents in 2023.
Among these were 11 collisions each in Kent and Surrey, the worst affected council areas.
This was up from 211 the year before, but down from 315 in 2017 and 309 a decade ago.
The Government expects independent research examining headlight glare to be published this summer.
Mr King said: “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.”
‘Blinding’
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 said: “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.”
Ms Greenwood, in her written reply to Mr Downie, said: “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, 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.”
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The MOT test used to put strict limits on the shape of the beam from headlamps. That seems to have been dropped. I no longer drive at night and often have to shade my eyes even when walking along the pavement.
And the ones that replace OEM with too bright lights. How many don’t have the adjuster set up. How many don’t know they have one. The added element of the newer battery powered cars being higher up and they seem to flood the front of the vehicle with lights for a cosmetic appeal and I fancy people in larger vehicle seem to be worse at driving and park almost in the boot meaning high up lights are right in the car when stopped at a red, casual observation from many years on the road. Then those that sit on the… Read more »
As said in the article motorists are unaware that their vehicles are fitted with a automatic dip control but has to be engaged manually every time the ignition is switched off. I find the one fitted on my car dips a little too late and will obviously blind oncoming traffic for a split second which is not good. Because of this I choose to dip my lights manually. Car manufacturers need to seriously consider adjusting the sensitivity of these devices.
LED headlights cause blinding and lead to traffic to slow or break suddenly which is dangerous. Reduce the glare and for many others get lights adjusted.