Ban on LED headlights gathers pace as thousands sign petition to end 'dangerously bright' lamps
Thousands of fed-up drivers have signed a petition to ban LED headlights on vehicles amid claims they are 'dangerously bright' and causing issues for other road users.
The move to see the lamps banned is gathering pace after the Department of Transport confirmed it was investigating the claims that the headlights are too bright and are 'blinding'. AA president Edmund King said he believes they are a major contributing factor which are causing collisions on the roads.
Now a petition has been created by Gemma Mooney and argues that LED headlamps are 'dangerously bright' and cause difficulties for other road users. The petition will run until June 5 and people can add their signature until this date.
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Gemma stated: "I believe they are dangerously too bright. Some drivers are using them on a full beam, causing difficulty for other drivers. Driving theory states that you aren't meant to dazzle drivers."
The petition has already gathered 2440 signatures. If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures the government will be forced to respond and if it reaches 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for a debate in parliament.
The move comes after Secretary of State for Transport, Lilian Greenwood last month confirmed that a new study was looking into the issue of the bright lights.
She said: "All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety on a broad range of roads and environments.
”However, noting increased public concern about headlamp glare, Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes and develop potential countermeasures. This work is underway and due to deliver in summer 2025; it will include real-world assessment of glare on a broad range of road types and scenarios including country roads.”
Drivers have been issued with advice on how to combat the glaring lights. This includes slowing down, adjusting your rear view mirror and considering an anti-reflective coating on spectacles..
And those motorists who have them have been asked to take some steps as a courtesy to other road users. They have been asked to make sure to check the alignment of their headlights and to clean them regularly.
The RAC has said it is increasingly receiving complaints about the issue and said the company now heard more complaints about headlights than potholes.
