LED headlight 'ban' update issued as minister replies and says probe looking into issue

The authorities has responded to mounting calls for a prohibition connected definite car headlights, amid concerns that their aggravated brightness is starring to accidents. AA members person reported to the organisation that LED lights connected vehicles are causing them to beryllium "blinded" portion driving, arsenic per AA president Edmund King.

National collision information indicates that successful 2023, dazzling headlights were a origin successful 216 incidents. In a caller Commons query, Jim Shannon of the Democratic Unionist Party questioned the Secretary of State for Transport astir her appraisal of the information of LED headlights connected cars, some mostly and connected agrarian roads.

Responding connected January 20, Lilian Greenwood announced that a caller survey has been initiated to research imaginable 'countermeasures'. She stated: "All types of roadworthy conveyance headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to assistance forestall undue glare and guarantee information connected a wide scope of roads and environments."

She added, "However, noting accrued nationalist interest astir headlamp glare, Government has commissioned autarkic probe to amended recognize the basal causes and make imaginable countermeasures. This enactment is underway and owed to present successful summertime 2025; it volition see real-world appraisal of glare connected a wide scope of roadworthy types and scenarios including state roads."

A House of Commons petition has demanded a prohibition connected LED headlights, stating: "We judge LED headlights request to beryllium banned connected nationalist roads. A caller survey recovered that astir 9 successful 10 radical deliberation astatine slightest immoderate headlights connected cars connected the roadworthy contiguous are excessively bright."

Moreover, statistic uncover that 216 collisions were reportedly instigated by dazzling headlamps, with Kent and Surrey topping the database arsenic the astir impacted assembly areas. This fig is an summation from 211 the erstwhile year, portion considerably little than the 315 and 309 incidents recorded successful 2017 and a decennary ago, respectively.

AA president Edmund King weighed in: "Our ain probe shows it is an contented for immoderate drivers with 3 quarters saying they person been blinded by oncoming headlights. Our members archer america that they are feeling the strain of brighter headlights much than ever before, arsenic good arsenic brighter brake and postulation lights."

He besides noted, "Conversely, they besides accidental brighter lights heighten roadworthy safety. The occupation seems to beryllium LED lights connected higher vehicles specified arsenic SUVs. The Government-sponsored probe into the usage of LED lights connected our roads should assistance clarify this contented further, arsenic good arsenic supply due measures wherever needed."

Douglas Chapman MP, who represents Dunfermline and Dollar, highlighted the occupation based connected accounts from his constituents and idiosyncratic encounters: "I person heard from constituents, arsenic good arsenic from household and friends and my ain acquisition driving circular the constituency that cars with newer LED lights tin beryllium blinding for different roadworthy users."

"While they mightiness illuminate the roadworthy good for the driver, they dazzle successful the eyes of different roadworthy users and could beryllium dangerous. In addition, exertion specified arsenic automatic beam power that is much communal means immoderate drivers are little alert of the interaction their ain lighting mightiness person connected others."

"The information of idiosyncratic drivers cannot beryllium astatine the disbursal of different roadworthy users and pedestrians. I americium gladsome this is thing the Government is present looking astatine and I look guardant to the results and what enactment tin beryllium taken to amended roadworthy safety."

RAC elder argumentation serviceman Rod Dennis remarked: "Few issues we woody with person triggered rather arsenic overmuch of a absorption among drivers arsenic the brightness of headlights. It's wide that, for a proportionality of the driving public, glare affects them profoundly connected the roads astatine night."

"But portion the vexation is evident, the causes of the occupation and what tin beryllium done astir it are overmuch little clear. That's wherefore the Government-funded task is truthful important."

Ms Greenwood, responding to Mr Downie successful writing, stated: "National collision statistics, which tin grounds headlamp dazzle arsenic a contributory factor, bash not amusement immoderate discernible inclination to suggest that advances successful lighting exertion are contributing negatively to roadworthy conveyance collisions."

"However, noting accrued nationalist concern, Government has commissioned autarkic probe to amended recognize the basal causes of headlamp glare and make imaginable countermeasures."

"This enactment is nether mode and is owed to present successful summertime 2025."