Concerns are being raised after an Autoblog poll revealed that 90% of motorists believe that xenon headlights are dangerous. The lights, which the blog claims are "super-bright", are being campaigned against in an initiative spearheaded by London cabbie Ken Perham.
Some 13,268 votes were cast in the Autoblog survey with 11,884 users agreeing with Perham that HID headlights are dangerous. Only 1,257 people said they weren't (9%) and 127 people didn't know (1%).
Perham comments that the poll vindicates his stance on the lights, claiming that banning them would help reduce accidents. He comments "The proposed changes, if implemented, would reduce accidents, save a few lives and make driving more pleasant for all of us."
He also claims that xenon lights make cyclists and mortocyclists less visible, leaving them in danger of getting hurt. He wants changes to be made to the MOT so misaligned headlights are spotted and rules that make daytime running lights compulsory on all new European cars to be revoked.
He continues "The Autoblog poll confirms that something serious needs to be done about this issue for our safety because anger from being dazzled by selfish drivers is reaching epidemic levels."