Motor Vehicles: Safety

(asked on 14th March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) safety of the use of bright LED car headlights and (b) adequacy of vehicle safety standards regulation on that matter.


Answered by
Trudy Harrison Portrait
Trudy Harrison
This question was answered on 17th March 2022

The Department monitors contributory factors to road collisions in GB through data recorded by police officers attending the scene. LED headlights are increasingly common in modern vehicles. Despite this, between 2010 and 2020, dazzle from headlights is recorded as a contributory factor in less than half a percent of collisions and, overall, there is no discernible trend or increase over this period.

Prior to registration, vehicle manufacturers must supply evidence that their vehicles comply with international road vehicle approval regulations. Provisions for vehicle headlamps define maximum and minimum intensity, light pattern and position on the vehicle. Domestic legislation also prohibits the use of headlamps that cause undue dazzle or discomfort for other road users. However, due to variations in road geometry there will be unavoidable instances where oncoming vehicles can cause momentary dazzle or discomfort and the Highway Code advises drivers to slow down or stop if necessary.

The Department’s officials continue to support international activity reviewing the relevant vehicle lighting standards.

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