Bright LED lights, particularly white and blue-tinted LEDs, have sparked controversy since they first appeared in vehicles. When high-intensity LED lights emerged for car use in the early 2000s, they were initially banned or restricted in some areas due to safety concerns. They were banned for a reason, so why are they back? Brief history below:
Initial Ban of Bright LED Lights:
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Glare and Visibility Issues: Early high-intensity LED lights, particularly the bright white or blue-tinged types, created significant intense glare for oncoming drivers. This led to temporary blindness and discomfort, increasing the risk of accidents and retina damage.
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Non-Uniform Standards: LED lighting technology developed quickly, but regulatory bodies, like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the U.S., struggled to keep up with standardizing brightness and color intensity across manufacturers. Without uniform regulations, drivers used various intensity levels, some of which were excessively bright.
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Public Backlash: Drivers and safety advocates expressed concerns, citing that the intense glare from these early LED lights was hazardous, particularly at night or in poor weather. This led some states and countries to issue BANS or to restrict LED headlights to lower brightness levels.
Dangers of White LED Lights in Cars:
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Glare and Discomfort: White and blue-tinted LED lights still pose a glare hazard for other drivers, particularly oncoming traffic or those looking through rearview mirrors. This can lead to temporary vision impairment, and retina damage long-term.
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Higher Blue Light Content: White LED lights often contain a high percentage of blue light, which scatters more easily in the atmosphere and can worsen glare in fog, rain, or snow. Unhealthy Blue light is also more likely to cause discomfort and eye strain for many people.
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Impact on Night Vision: Blue-rich white LEDs can affect night vision more than yellow-tinted lights. When drivers experience temporary blindness from intense LED headlights, their eyes may take longer to recover compared to traditional halogen lights, increasing the risk of accidents.
Current Safety Standards:
Today, regulatory bodies like the NHTSA and international equivalents have implemented more stringent standards for LED headlights but it is not enough! Vote to ban all blue white LED lights in all vehicles and bring back healthier incandescent lights.