Drivers are taking things to the extreme by swapping out their car’s original halogen bulbs for super-bright LED lights, even in vehicles not designed for them.
Motoring experts warn that this trend is behind a sharp increase in incidents where drivers are blinded by headlights on the road. Research from the RAC, which is pushing for government action on the safety risks, shows that one in 20 drivers have had a close call because of headlight glare.
According to Lightaware, a campaign charity, many drivers are replacing their old halogen bulbs with LEDs just to get brighter headlights. The problem? Halogen headlights use reflectors to direct the light in a specific beam pattern, while LEDs use projectors. If an LED bulb is installed in a halogen housing, it messes up the beam alignment and creates dangerous glare for other drivers.
An investigation by The Mail on Sunday uncovered the growing demand for LED bulbs online. Just on Amazon UK, more than 2,600 packs have been bought in the last month alone. These bulbs, marketed as “halogen replacements” or “upgrades,” are sold legally only for use off-road.
Experts believe this DIY modification is a key reason behind the surge in complaints about headlights that dazzle drivers. Other contributing factors include the rise of SUVs with higher-mounted headlights that shine directly into the line of sight of drivers in smaller cars, as well as the shift to whiter LED lights in newer vehicles that aren’t always properly adjusted.
Many drivers may not even know they’ve broken the law by installing illegal LED bulbs until their car fails its MOT. RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis expressed concern over the growing trend. He said, 'Many online retailers fail to make clear that retro-fitted LED bulbs can only be used legally off-road.
'Drivers like them because they're cheap, they're plug-and-play and they're brighter than the old-style halogen bulbs. But the quality of the cheaper ones is often terrible.
'They are not designed for halogen housings and as a result the intensity and direction of light may well be blinding other motorists.
'We need more research to understand what is happening and we're pleased that the government has commissioned this.
'Drivers fitting these bulbs may unwittingly be causing far more of a problem than has so far been acknowledged.'
In a recent RAC survey, 91% of drivers reported being dazzled by headlights, and 74% said it happens regularly. Nearly 7% of those surveyed, especially older drivers, said the glare was so bad it made them avoid driving at night.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) confirms that LED bulbs can only be legally used on public roads if they come standard on new cars. Retro-fitting them to older vehicles, or using high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, can lead to an MOT failure.
In short, while LED headlights might seem like a cool upgrade, they’re causing a dangerous problem on the roads.
Have you experienced a close call because of headlight glare? Let us know your experience in the comments!
