An urgent investigation is underway following 216 accidents attributed to dazzling headlights, raising safety concerns among drivers and officials.
Dunfermline: Drivers are really feeling the pressure from those super bright headlights these days. Campaigners are saying it’s worse than ever. Lilian Greenwood, a transport minister, is trying to calm the worries about road safety. She asked the Department for Transport to look into the safety of LED headlights. But the stats don’t seem to show any clear link between new lighting tech and more accidents.
However, Edmund King, the president of the AA, mentioned that many members feel blinded by these LED lights. It’s a real issue, especially with some drivers not realizing how their lights affect others. In fact, national data shows that dazzling headlights played a part in 216 accidents this year alone. Kent and Surrey were hit the hardest, each with 11 incidents.
That’s a slight increase from 211 last year, but it’s down from 315 in 2017. The government is expecting some independent research on headlight glare to come out this summer, which should shed more light on the situation.
King pointed out that three-quarters of drivers have reported being blinded by oncoming headlights. It’s a growing concern, especially with brighter brake and traffic lights too. Interestingly, while some drivers think brighter lights make roads safer, the problem seems to be with LED lights on taller vehicles like SUVs.
MP Graeme Downie from Scotland shared that he’s heard from many people about how blinding these newer LED lights can be. They might help the driver see better, but they can dazzle others on the road, which is dangerous.
He also mentioned that features like automatic beam control can make drivers less aware of how their lights impact others. It’s crucial that the safety of one driver doesn’t come at the cost of others, including pedestrians.
Greenwood responded to Downie, saying that while the national stats don’t show a clear trend linking new lighting tech to more accidents, the government is taking public concern seriously. They’ve commissioned research to dig deeper into the causes of headlamp glare and find ways to tackle it. This research is set to wrap up by summer 2025.
