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Illegal to fix bright headlights without RTD approval
KUALA LUMPUR: Fitting bluish-white headlights to their vehicles may be
the latest fad among motorists but the blinding lights have caused not
only discomfort to road users but also some confusion.
Thousands of motorists may have to get them changed to the normal yellow
lights as the Road Transport Department (RTD) says it is illegal to
install the xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) lights without approval
from the department.
And importers of luxury cars, which come with the lights pre-installed,
must also get written permission from the RTD.
This has prompted motorists to ask: Why allow such blinding lights in the
first place?
According to a website, HID lights are two times brighter than the
conventional halogen bulbs used by most vehicles on the road. Among other
things they:
·ARE more efficient in terms of energy consumption, have a longer
lifespan and can improve visibility for the driver compared to halogen
lamps; and
·WILL not cause unwanted glare or discomfort to other road users if they
are properly aligned.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) adviser Datuk Adnan
Hamdan said motorists had complained that the lights posed a danger as
they were left temporarily blinded by cars with these lights.
“Why allow them in the first place? Although it is not a major problem,
it may become one soon as many motorists are converting to HID lights,”
he said, adding that Fomca had received letters on the matter.
He said the RTD rules on the matter were also not clear and need to be
reviewed.
RTD technical department director Zahamail Omar said only certain car
manufacturers who had met international specifications and had approval
from the RTD were allowed to use these lights.
“Anyone wanting to modify their headlights must apply to the technical
department for the product to be evaluated to find out if it fulfils the
specifications for road transport.
“Any modifications made by the car owner that can cause accidents,
interference or danger to other road users can be penalised under the
Motor Vehicle Rules (Construction and Use) 1959,” he told The Star
yesterday.
He advised car owners to have their vehicles checked by the RTD to find
out if their headlights were within specifications.
Zahamail declined to comment on the penalties for using HID lights.
Dean of the Engineering Faculty at Universiti Putra Malaysia Prof Radin
Umar Radin Sohadi said it would not become an issue as long as the lights
were fitted according to proper procedures.
“The problem arises when the people who fix it may not be setting the
height of the beam correctly. This could blur or blind people travelling
in the opposite direction.
“As it is, our headlights when not on high beam are already set to a
certain angle that does not endanger oncoming traffic,” said Prof Radin,
who is UPM's road safety research centre director.
Those against the use of the lights said it was very blinding and
dangerous.
Public relations executive B. Sree Sudheesh, 23, said the RTD should
enforce the rules with regards to the illegal use of the lights. He added
that cars with such lights should not even be on the road.
For Mohd Asnawi Arshad, 36, the extremely bright lights have often left
him “in the dark”.
“The moment the car passes by, my vision become blinded or blurred. It is
very dangerous.”
Checks with car accessories centres revealed that some of them know that
HID lights are illegal.
According to a mechanic who only wanted to be identified as Ricky, HID
headlight kits did not last very long, with an average lifespan of about
six months.
“They cost anywhere between RM900 and RM1,400 and there is no way to make
it dimmer,” he said, adding that he did not encourage his customers to
install the lights.
Those using HID lights felt it made a difference to them, especially when
driving at night on highways.
“The light is extremely bright compared with the conventional yellow
lights, and that is very good. Whether or not it distracts other people
is a different issue, what is important is that it helps the driver,”
said managing director Cheah Eng Kong.
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