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The text you’ve provided discusses the growing issue of headlight glare from vehicles, especially at night, and how it affects road users. Here is a summary of the key points covered:
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### Problem Description:
– Many people find it difficult to tell if oncoming vehicles have their main beam (high beam) on or off, which can cause temporary vision problems.
– Headlight glare, particularly from larger vehicles, can cause discomfort including migraines.
– It can force drivers to look away or slow down, especially on country lanes at night.
– The issue appears to be worsening over time.
### Expert Insights:
– Denise Voon, clinical advisor at the College of Optometrists, notes a rise in complaints about headlight glare over the past 15 years.
– The United Nations plans to mandate automatic headlight adjustment in all new cars to reduce glare.
– Existing cars without this technology remain a challenge for road safety and comfort.
### Reasons Behind Increased Glare:
– Headlights have evolved significantly:
– Shift from filament bulbs producing a “brown glow” to brighter and clearer LEDs.
– Plastic casings replacing glass.
– More complex and aesthetically designed headlights.
– Although brighter lights improve the driver’s vision, they cause unintended side effects of dazzling other drivers.
– Illegal retrofitting of LED bulbs into halogen units worsens glare problems and is being targeted by authorities with fines.
### Vision Impact:
– Eyes adapt to darkness, becoming more light-sensitive.
– Bright headlights can “bleach” retinal cells temporarily, causing impaired vision and sometimes pain.
– Older people are more vulnerable due to conditions like cataracts and glaucoma.
### Characteristics of LED Headlights:
– LEDs are 2-3 times brighter than halogen bulbs.
– Their light is whiter and bluer (“colour temperature”), resembling daylight.
– LEDs are highly directional, concentrating light in a focused beam, which intensifies glare.
– It’s unclear if brightness, light color, or beam direction causes the most discomfort, but all are factors.
### Accident Data & Trends:
– Despite these concerns, official accident statistics do not show a significant increase in collisions caused by headlight glare.
– In 2023, headlight dazzle was a factor in 216 collisions, with 4 fatalities; this is down from 330 in 2014.
– Some data is no longer separately recorded, complicating trend analysis.
– The data doesn’t cover behavioral changes like reduced nighttime driving due to glare.
### Public Perception:
– Government reports acknowledge drivers widely perceive glare as a serious and widespread problem.
– Whiter, brighter headlights and larger vehicles’ headlamps are seen as particularly problematic.
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If you want, I can help with specific information, advice on coping strategies for glare, or an explanation about how vehicle lighting regulations are evolving to address this issue. Just let me know!
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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