Most upmarket cars are now being fitted with LED lights and it is causing problems for drivers on the road.
Energy efficient light bulbs are feared to be the reason behind the rise in complaints by drivers of bright headlights and distractions. Modern cars come fitted with the LED lights, and the RAC fears that this might be the reason for the elevated number of complaints.
The motoring body authority released a report which showed that at least 15 percent of drivers had had a near miss with their cars. The report related the incidences to the brightness of some of the new cars on the road.
After receiving numerous complaints about the issue, the Department of Transport set up a team together with a United Nations working group to get to the bottom of the issue. The team wanted to know why many drivers were overly aggressive to the new headlights brightness. The group noted that they were potentially looking at the rise in the use of LED lights in the modern cars.
LED lights are believed to be energy efficient and use the light emitting diodes. They also have a greater lifespan than the incandescent lamps. The electrical efficiency also surpasses that of fluorescent lamps.
Experts believe there is a correlation between how the rise in complaints of brightness is also linked to the rise in LED lights fitted onto cars. A lighting expert at the Quality Light Source Factory, Stephen Dixon, noted that the increase in the number of LED lights was likely the reason people found them to be much brighter.
He explained that the LED light was more of direction and did not spread itself like the traditional halogen. It also showed itself as blue light, therefore appeared brighter in darkness, he explained. The LED lights have been recently fitted into most upmarket cars and many mid-range vehicles.
All the cars in the UK are supposed to adhere to the standards which were set by the EU. The EU’s standards are also set according to the UN’s World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. The UK government also notes that all headlights in the country must have sufficient light to illuminate the road, but not distract oncoming drivers.
The spokesman for the road safety organ, RAC, Pete Williams noted that some of the new headlights were clearly causing problems on the road. He noted that there had been a considerable technological advancement in the headlight industry but at the same time it had also come with its own problems. He also said that they were looking forward to the upcoming United Nations working group Congress in April, were this other issues were to be discussed.
