Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has conformed that Department of Transport officials have raised the issue of new generation headlight glare at a United nations International expert group on vehicle lighting.
Recently North Down Ulster Unionist MLA, Alan Chambers, submitted an Assembly written question to the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the glare created by the intense headlights on all modern vehicles.
(Q) To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for his assessment of any negative impact on road safety caused by the glare of new generation headlights on drivers of oncoming vehicles.
Alan commented on his reasons for asking the question. He said: “As the dark evenings started to close in, car journeys on unlit country roads have become a bit of a nightmare for me due to the blinding effect of the extremely bright glare created by oncoming vehicles fitted with the latest headlight technology.
“This along with the fading, and in many cases disappearance of reflective road markings, has made night-time driving, especially at busy times, an ordeal.
“It has become a huge challenge not to lose your own sense of road position on narrow country roads.
“I thought this was a problem that was maybe just unique to me but on raising the subject with friends and family it became apparent that I am not alone in struggling with this issue.
“It has caused me to now try and seek out main roads with street lighting to complete my journeys. The reply I expected to receive from the Minister was the usual bland ministerial reply.
“However, the first paragraph pointed me to a Department of Transport (DfT) agency called the Vehicle Certification Agency that has responsibility for certifying a vehicle for use on our roads.
“It also reminded me that the MOT test checks headlight alignment but that light intensity or glare are not currently testable items. Rather than being a unique issue with me it appears that the topic is actually an international issue.”
The Minister’s also added: “DfT officials have advised that all vehicle headlamps are designed and tested to comply with internationally recognised standards.
“This is to ensure that they balance the need to be sufficiently bright to illuminate the road ahead against the risk of affecting the vision of other road users. The standards define the beam pattern and include maximum and minimum light intensities.
“In light of concerns raised by the public, DfT officials raised the issue at the United Nations international expert group on vehicle lighting. Proposals to amend headlamp aiming criteria were subsequently agreed in April 2023, together with requirements for mandatory automatic headlamp levelling”
The Minister then outlined the implications and timeline of new agreed changes to vehicle headlight design.
He said: “The implementation of the changes agreed will take some time as vehicle manufacturers have been allowed the time needed to redesign their products and adapt the manufacturing process.
“DfT expect that the tighter tolerances will come into effect in September 2027. Once implemented, these tougher requirements for new vehicle types will in due course help alleviate the number of cases where road users are dazzled.
“In addition, DfT have recently awarded Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) a research contract to investigate the factors that cause glare from the headlights of oncoming vehicles, and how to address this.
“TRL are due to report their findings in Spring of 2025. My officials will monitor the progress of this research and will advise of any implications or advice for road users here once the findings have been published.“
Alan Chambers concluded that: “I am delighted that the scary journey I made over a back road dealing with severe oncoming headlight glare, with rainy conditions not helping, prompted me to write to the Minister for his assessment of the impact this glare might be having on road safety.
“I worry that the issue has the potential to be a factor in adverse incidents on our roads.
“I was more than surprised that the problem was way beyond a parochial one and was the subject of a United Nations group acknowledging the issue and actually doing something about it.
“The current internationally recognised standards that try to balance the need for good highlight illumination against the risk of affecting the vision of other road users is not working.
“I welcome that this has been recognised and is being addressed. In the meantime, I will be avoiding unlit narrow roads and seeking recommendations for a good pair of night driving spectacles.
“Hopefully Santa might have taken care of the glasses for me!”
