Ireland must get serious about blinding LED lights
Ireland must get serious about blinding LED lights - The Labour Party
Labour transport spokesperson Ciaran Ahern TD has urged the Transport Minister to instigate a safety review into dazzling LED headlights in Ireland.
Deputy Ahern said:
“New LED lights, and those with high intensity discharge (HID), provide greater brightness for road users at night, but the brightness levels of some of these headlights are at risk of causing visibility problems for drivers.
“Depending on the direction or the angle of these lights coming at the driver, which is often from new higher cars and higher positions, they can temporarily blind or dazzle the driver.
“A recent survey commissioned by the RAC in the UK into the safety of LED headlights in modern vehicles found that four in five drivers were concerned about dazzling headlights. I have asked the Minister for Transport to commission a similar study in Ireland to ensure better road safety.
“Even for road users without a light sensitive condition, these LED headlights are increasingly causing issues for people on our roads, they are distracting for drivers, particularly in urban areas. Indeed, even opticians are advertising anti-reflection coating on lenses for drivers.
“While the European Union is responsible for regulation in this area, I would urge the Minister to take a proactive approach in Ireland through the commission of a safety study to get a handle on these headlights.
“2025 was a devastating year on our roads, and we need to give every road user the very best chance when it comes to safety.”
ENDS
Priority Questions to the Minister for Transport, January 15th 2026: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2026-01-15/17/#spk_99