Are vehicle headlights too bright? Debate revs up as U.K. plans study

The U.K. announced in late March that it will commission an independent study into glare from bright car headlights but it is unclear whether Canada will do the same.

Are car headlights too bright these days?

The U.K. announced in late March that it will commission an independent study into glare from bright car headlights, but it is unclear whether Canada could — or should — do the same.

The intention for a study in the U.K. comes after a petition called for action and gained over 13,000 signatures. The petition said some headlights cause oncoming traffic to be “unable to see clearly and safely.”

U.K. roadside assistance company RAC launched its own study of car headlights and found that out of 2,000 drivers, nearly 90 per cent said at least some headlights on cars on the road today are too bright. Of those affected by the bright lights, 85 per cent said they believe the problem is getting worse.

“Of all these drivers who complain about the brightness of car headlights, some 91 per cent say they get dazzled when driving with three-quarters (74 per cent) saying this happens regularly,” the company said in a statement in January.

RAC said the effect may be due to more cars having LED headlights, which have a much more intense and focused beam than “yellower” halogen bulbs.

Global News asked Transport Canada if it intends to study the issue but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Automotive regulatory compliance lawyer Tim Cullen, a partner at the law firm McMillan, told Global News that he has no doubt that LED headlights fall within Canada’s regulations for brightness, but admitted that the human eye may still perceive them different from halogen bulbs.