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The following is overdue to be sure.
Questions: Was any thought given by the car manufacturers to the drivers facing these intensely bright LED headlights?
I am finding the most troublesome on pickups and some SUVs that are hauling or towing, causing the headlights to tip up.
On an evening trip, I met a pickup hauling two snowmobiles. When I blinked, it returned with its high beams. I had to slow down to let my retinas recover. Farther down the road, I met another truck that had three LED lgiths on each fender, plus a round LED which covered most of the radiator.
Now wait a minute. This was in wooded and farm country, probably home to deer and other wildlife. Animals both wild and domestic that venture across and on highway shoulders become possible fatalities. A whitetail deer's eyes are much more light sensitive than a human's with longer recovery times.
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Here are my top three concerns pertaining to LED headlights:
- A shorter time span for drivers facing these lights to experience driving fatigue, increasing the possibility of more accidents.
- A higher rate of road rage. Recent reports say this is already the case.
- An increase in the number of roadkill among animals that cross or run on the shoulders.
Without some form of new regulation or modification, I feel these LED lights will become more and more hazardous. Simply put, they are overkill.
Laurel Linder is a resident of Alexandria, Minn.
This letter does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Forum's editorial board nor Forum ownership.
