When was the last time you were driving at night? Were you blinded by extremely bright headlights? This is the case for most drivers as cars with Light-emitting diodes (LED) headlights have been on the rise in recent years.
In 1966, the Motor Safety Vehicles Act was passed by congress, requiring automakers to make sure their vehicles are safe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) establishes federal safety standards for motor vehicles.
There is a section for headlights in the guidelines for the NHTSA. They give no authorization for the use of LED lights, which means they are technically not legal and never have been.
LED headlights are not only unregulated, but dangerous. When driving it is hard to see the roads and drive safely when your vision is being impaired due to the headlights sheer brightness.
The Soft Lights Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Oregon, is committed to protect people and the environment from harmful LEDs. The Soft Lights Foundation describes these LED headlights as “excessively intense.”
In Europe, there has actually been efforts to ban the use of LED headlights. A survey was conducted from a large number of European drivers where 64% of them have expressed “problems perceiving objects in the vicinity of the dazzling light source.”
Leah Strohecker, a Kempsville senior, explains her hatred for the newer headlights: “They’re just stupid and really dangerous.”
Strohecker also brings up concerns for her safety by adding that, “I can’t really see anything, especially when they’re on the opposite side of the road coming towards you.”
LEDs are often looked at as energy efficient but the Soft Lights Foundation argues that LEDs can’t save energy when they don’t even live up to the standard or perform in the same way as headlights before them. The Soft Lights Foundation explains that LEDs “emit a bullet-shaped beam of non-uniform low-quality light that is toxic, hazardous, discriminatory, and not fit for the purpose of illumination.”
Sylvie Green, a Kempsville English teacher, comments “I don’t want to have bright headlights shining in my face while I’m driving, that’s really distracting.”
Not only does most of Kempsville think these headlights are a danger on the road, but most Americans and Europeans do too. I believe the common consensus for Kempsville drivers and almost all drivers alike is that LED headlights are distracting, dangerous, and annoying.
If you feel strongly about taking LED headlights off the road you can visit the Soft Light Foundation website where they have resources and walk you through the steps you can take in order to keep our roads safe.
