Motor Vehicles: Lighting

(asked on 28th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle the effect on road safety of excessively bright car headlights.


Answered by
Michael Ellis Portrait
Michael Ellis
This question was answered on 3rd July 2019

Regulations are already in place to help prevent headlamps from causing glare. Before vehicles can be sold or registered in the United Kingdom manufacturers must ensure compliance with international vehicle approval requirements, which include defined beam patterns and intensities to minimise the occurrence of glare.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 prohibit the use of headlamps that can cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other road users. Vehicle users have a responsibility to ensure their vehicles are maintained correctly, and headlamp aim is checked at the annual roadworthiness inspection (MOT test) to ensure it is within acceptable limits.

Reticulating Splines