Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to (a) ensure the effective regulation of headlight brightness and (b) address the issue of dangerous headlight glare on vehicles.

Prior to registration vehicle manufacturers must supply evidence that their vehicles comply with international road vehicle approval requirements. Provisions for vehicle headlamps define maximum and minimum intensity, light pattern and position on the vehicle. Domestic legislation also prohibits the use of headlamps that cause undue dazzle or discomfort for other road users.

The Department’s engineers are involved in ongoing international activity at the United Nations and proposals to amend headlamp aiming criteria are expected to be agreed this month, together with requirements for mandatory automatic headlamp levelling.