Katlego Sekhu
A study from the University of Stellenbosch found that 58% of traffic deaths occur in the hours of darkness, with the risk of being in a fatal crash 4-5 times higher at night than in the daytime.
Driving in the dark is a big challenge for a lot of drivers. Sudden blasts of light, like the headlights of oncoming vehicles, reduce the contrast in one’s night vision, hindering one’s ability to see hazards.
Additionally, The Global News reports that the U.K. announced in late March that it would commission an independent study into glare from bright car headlights, but it is unclear whether Canada could—or should—do the same.
The United Kingdom’s roadside assistance company, RAC, launched its study of car headlights and found that out of 2,000 drivers, nearly 90 per cent said at least some headlights on cars on the road today are too bright. Of those affected by the bright lights, 85 per cent said they believe the problem is getting worse.
Now, what about South Africa? Sizwe Dhlomo, Sol Phenduka, and Mpho Maboi spoke at length about the dangers of bright LED lights when driving at night or early in the morning.
The listeners joined the discussion, sharing their experiences.
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