Motorists in Surrey among worst affected by LED headlight glare as road safety debates intensify

Surrey: Drivers are really feeling the heat from those bright LED headlights these days. Campaigners say they’re more blinding than ever, even though transport officials are trying to reassure everyone. The issue popped up in Parliament after reports showed that dazzling headlights were linked to 216 crashes this year, with Surrey being one of the hardest-hit spots.

When asked about the safety of these LED lights, MP Lilian Greenwood mentioned that the stats don’t really show any negative trends. But that’s not what drivers are saying. Edmund King, the president of the AA, shared that many members complain about being “blinded” by oncoming vehicles with these bright lights. Labour MP Graeme Downie also pointed out that some drivers might not even realize how their lights affect others on the road.

Looking at the national collision stats, it’s clear that dazzling headlights played a role in 216 incidents this year. Both Surrey and Kent reported 11 collisions each. While this is a slight uptick from last year, it’s still lower than the numbers from a few years back. There’s more research on headlight glare coming out later this year, so we’ll see what that reveals.

Mr. King mentioned that their research shows this is a real issue for many drivers, with three-quarters saying they’ve been blinded by headlights. Drivers are feeling the strain from these brighter lights, but they also acknowledge that brighter lights can improve road safety.

He noted that the problem seems to be worse with LED lights on taller vehicles like SUVs. The government is looking into this issue, which should help clarify things and suggest any necessary measures.

Mr. Downie, who represents Dunfermline and Dollar in Scotland, shared that he’s heard from many people, including family and friends, about how blinding these newer LED lights can be. While they light up the road well for the driver, they can dazzle others and create dangerous situations. Plus, with automatic beam control becoming more common, some drivers might not even be aware of how their lights impact others.

He emphasized that the safety of one driver shouldn’t come at the expense of others, including pedestrians. He’s glad the government is taking this seriously and is eager to see what actions will be taken to improve road safety.

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis added that few issues spark as much reaction among drivers as headlight brightness. It’s clear that for many, glare is a significant problem at night.

However, while the frustration is real, the causes and solutions aren’t so clear-cut. That’s why the government-funded research is crucial.

In a response to Mr. Downie, Ms. Greenwood from the Department for Transport stated that national collision stats don’t show any negative trends linked to new lighting technology. But due to rising public concern, the government has commissioned independent research to dig deeper into the causes of headlamp glare and find possible solutions. This work is in progress and is expected to wrap up by summer 2025.

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