Ultra-Bright Headlights Are Causing Accidents, Say Campaigners
We’ve all been dazzled by headlights at some point, whether it’s from oncoming traffic or someone behind, only to discover that the offending car is actually on dipped beam. Some of the latest LED and xenon units are vicious.
A United Nations Working Party, which includes representation from the UK, has started to look at the issue following a growing number of public complaints dating back (in this country, at least) to the ‘Lightmare’ campaign that was started in 2011 by a London-based taxi driver.
An RAC survey suggests that 65 per cent of people are ‘regularly dazzled’ by oncoming headlights, with 15 per cent admitting to a near-miss that they blame on dazzling lights. Most of these people say it takes them up to five seconds to get their full sight back, by which time, if they’re holding 60mph, they can have travelled 134m. Not good, and even opticians don’t like it.
The latest designs of headlights are brighter and whiter, illuminating the road with not just more light, but a more natural colour of beam that’s less strenuous for the driver’s eye. Not as much thought has been given to other drivers on the road, perhaps, with 68 per cent of people saying they had difficulty in judging whether a car’s indicators were on because its headlights were so bright.
All cars sold in the UK have headlights that technically conform to the EU’s current standards, but campaigners want the standards to be changed. RAC spokesman Pete Williams said:
“While regulations specify that all types of dipped headlights must fall between a maximum and minimum luminosity the night-time driving experience of motorists of all ages is very different with many saying dipped beams of some modern vehicles are too bright.
“We look forward to seeing the progress of the United Nations’ vehicle lighting working group in April.”
Comments
Ups… I just bought an LED kit of headlights for my car. I’m glad I don’t live in Europe. Just saying.
I was taught not to look into oncoming headlights. It works for me, but high beams are often selected by oncoming cars. This is a pain to me. I see both sides of the argument. Aftermarket Jeep LED lights are usually poorly aimed. If law enforcement would ticket them, that would help. We shall see what becomes of this.
I see god oh wait its a truck. Wow i am going to see god then.
Here in the US its espically bad with all the lifted trucks we have. They’re much worse than any crossover or suv
Instead of dipping the headlights lower, why not make the headlight itself lower, like in the case of Nissan Juke?
MichaelR.T.Jensen
The problem are clearly speedbumps. Everytime a car near my goes over one, i’m blinded.
Another part of the problem are the automated dimming rear view and side mirrors on new cars, they wont have any problem with the brighter headlights. Meanwhile I can’t see a thing in my 1999 Daihatsu because is doesn’t have dimmable side mirrors. I can dim the reai view mirror but will still be blinded by my side mirrors…
Truly annoying indeed, especially with the stupid large number of tall vehicles like crossovers or SUVs on the road today. If you drive something old school, close to the ground as cars should be, I am blinded half the time I drive at night.
Why not have a system where the car detects oncoming traffic and dips or dims the lights even further, and once the oncoming traffic is gone the headlights return to normal brightness.
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