Peter Lamb, Labour MP for Crawley, has led an important debate in Parliament on the growing problem of vehicle headlight glare and its impact on drivers in Crawley and across the country.
Mr Lamb secured the debate for a new standard for vehicle headlights following on from research by organisations such as the RAC, detailing the impact of LED headlights on countless motorists, particularly affecting older drivers and those in poorly lit areas.
In his speech, Mr Lamb set out the evidence that that vehicle headlight glare is a growing issue, that it has led to an increase in road accidents—including fatal accidents—and that it has resulted in an increasing number of people avoiding driving in the dark, increasing levels of social isolation.
The Crawley MP’s call for change follows growing concern from local residents in Crawley who have contacted him the dangers and discomfort caused by overly-bright and poorly aligned headlights.
During the course of the debate, the Government confirmed that research commissioned by the Transport Research Laboratory to examine the effects of headlight glare will be published very shortly, that it had identified a number of problems with headlight glare and that further research was being undertaken to provide an evidence-base for changes in standards. The findings will feed into the Government’s upcoming Road Safety Strategy.
Mr Lamb welcomed the Government’s announcement, noting that it was a vital first step towards making driving safer and more comfortable for all road users.
Commenting on the debate, Peter Lamb MP said:
“Everyone deserves to feel safe and confident on our roads. When modern headlights cause pain, anxiety, or loss of confidence behind the wheel, that’s a problem we have a duty to address.”
“I am grateful to the minister for his announcements on this issue made during the debate and I will continue to press to ensure that action is taken at the earliest opportunity.”