Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
347. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 289 of 12 November 2025, if he will review the safety of LED headlights in modern vehicles considering the UK has done the same; if he has engaged with his UK counterpart on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72482/25]
View answer348. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he or his Department or the Road Safety Authority has received any correspondence from members of the public or representative bodies on the impact of LED headlights on drivers at night, and the impact on road safety; if he will commit to a public consultation on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72483/25]
View answer349. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he and his Department or the Road Safety Authority has considered the findings from a survey in the UK commissioned by the RAC (details supplied) that found four in five drivers were concerned about dazzling headlights; if the data from the survey has been sought; if he intends to engage with the RAC on the survey results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72484/25]
View answer350. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he or his Department or the Road Safety Authority has considered the independent research study published by TRL in October 2025 titled ‘Glare from road vehicle lighting on UK roads’ (details supplied) that was commissioned by the UK government; if he or the RSA will now commission a similar study in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72485/25]
View answer351. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if the impact of brightness and glass from modern LED headlights is addressed in the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030; if not, if the strategy will be updated in line with the measures the UK intends to take in its forthcoming Road Safety Strategy to protect drivers from glare caused by headlights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72486/25]
View answer352. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he or his Department or the Road Safety Authority has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) on the impact of glare and LED headlights in modern cars on drivers; and if not, if he or his Department or the RSA plan to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72487/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 347, 348, 349, 350, 351 and 352 together.
As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that light emitting diode (LED) and high intensity discharge (HID) headlights are known to provide greater brightness, improved colour rendering, increase efficiency and, in the case of LED in particular, longer performance life.
The use of LED and HID headlights in vehicles across the EU is regulated by the European type-approval system under Regulation (EU) 2018/858, transposed by SI 556/2020 - European Union (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval and Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020. This system establishes the technical and safety standards required to place a vehicle or a vehicle component on the market and enter it into service within any EU Member State. To acquire type-approval, the headlight components and technology must meet specific safety standards. Accordingly, if a headlight has been type-approved and entered into service, it is considered safe to use within the EU.
During roadworthiness testing, the lighting system in a vehicle is tested to ensure it is in full working order and correctly aligned for the safe performance of the vehicle. Factors which can contribute headlamp glare include misaligned aim, dirty or damaged headlamps or the use of incorrect bulbs.
As the standards for these lights are regulated for at EU level, the Department currently has no plan to review their use in the State. However, I understand that the UNECE Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling is planning on establishing a task force to investigate this issue.
