PONDA: The increasing use of high beam LED headlights by four-wheelers is becoming a big nuisance for night-time commuters. Over the past few years, this issue has escalated, with many drivers resorting to the use of unnecessary high beams even on narrow internal roads, posing serious risks of accidents. Pedestrians and senior citizens, particularly on village roads, are facing increased hardships due to this trend.
Concerned residents of Ponda have demanded action against the blinding effect caused by high beam lights, which pose a significant hazard to oncoming traffic. They advocated for a return to traditional headlights with the option to dim and high beams, ensuring safer road conditions.
Viraj Sapre, a social activist in Ponda, emphasized the need to ban high beam headlights that can potentially blind drivers coming in the opposite direction, leading to accidents.
Echoing Sapre’s concerns, Sandeep Parkar, another social activist, pointed at the growing number of vehicles equipped with built-in high beam headlights. He called for a ban on the misuse of high beam lights, stressing that they not only blind oncoming drivers but also significantly increase the risk of accidents. Parkar urged the government to issue notifications prohibiting the use of such high beam headlights on vehicles to prevent further accidents.
Vishal Fadte from Ponda highlighted the necessity of banning unnecessary high beam lights, as many drivers fail to practice dimming them for the convenience of oncoming vehicles.
Naresh Naik, a commuter, shared his struggles riding a bike at night, citing the difficulty in navigating roads due to oncoming vehicles’ excessive use of high beams. Even in well-lit city areas, he observes an unnecessary prevalence of high beam lights, which adds to the visibility challenges for other road users.
Traffic Police Inspector Krishna Sinhari assured that the Traffic Department is taking action against individuals who misuse high beam lights, recognizing the risks they pose to other road users.
Krishna Naik, President of the Ponda Tourist Taxi Association, underscored the dangers posed by high beam mercury headlights, emphasizing the heightened risk of accidents due to impaired vision for drivers in the opposite direction.
