Shedding light on a dazzling problem

Green energy solutions sometimes give light to new problems, said Midlands expert Ron Fox.

He said that was certainly true for LED headlights which use less power, but are so bright that they are making life difficult for motorists struggling to drive at night because of the dazzle from oncoming cars.

“Evening driving has become a bigger problem as the winter evenings draw in, especially after the clocks changed, which means more people are driving home after dark,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd.

LED (light-emitting diode) headlights use semiconductor diodes to produce a brighter, whiter, longer-lasting light which has a more focused beam and greater clarity, so improving visibility for drivers compared to traditional halogen bulbs.

These headlights need less power than old technology bulbs, which is especially beneficial for electric vehicles, where power consumption is critical.

They are becoming increasingly standard in new cars, partly because their small size allows for more design flexibility in assembling the headlight.

Now the government is taking a closer look at the design of cars and headlamps on UK roads, and new measures are expected to be included in the government’s upcoming Road Safety Strategy.

The results of last winter’s research by the Department for Transport (DfT) into the “causes and impact of glare” have been delayed but are now expected to be published soon.

Drivers say the LED headlamps are causing them problems with the more focused beam blinding them for a few seconds, compared to the more diffuse light from halogen lamps fitted in older cars.

The problem is worse for older people, whose eyes take around nine seconds to recover from glare, compared to one second for a 16-year-old, according to road safety experts.

A new survey from the motoring organisation, the RAC, has found that more than a third of drivers are nervous about getting behind the wheel as the evenings get darker. Three quarters of respondents said driving was getting more difficult due to the brighter lights.

The RAC said that, so far, little progress has been made on tackling glare, with regulations governing headlights dating back to 1989. Their research showed dazzling headlights were cited as a factor in around 250 accidents a year, but said there was no evidence that brighter lights are causing more collisions than previously.

To cope with brighter headlights when driving, Ron advises motorists:

• Ensure your windscreen is clean.
• Wear glasses and keep them clean.
• Avoid looking straight ahead, instead focus on the edge of the road.
• Do not wear night sunglasses sold for night-driving, as they reduce overall light and won’t reduce glare.

“The government must strike a balance between safety on the roads and headlights that are bright enough,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park. “We certainly don’t want to go back to worse headlights.”

For those wanting more advice about green driving, call Ron on 0845 474 6641 or contact us here.

Caption: New LED headlights are a dazzling problem. Picture by John Butterworth