Wednesday February 16, 2011 (STAR, METRO)
Public concerned over more vehicles with xenon lights
By CHARLES FERNANDEZ
THE number of vehicles using bright xenon lights keeps increasing despite the recent announcement by the Road Transport Department (RTD) that its enforcement officers will check vehicles fitted with xenon headlights.
The department has repeatedly said it was illegal to install high intensity discharge (HID) lights on vehicles without approval. Even luxury car importers must get approval from JPJ if their cars have HID installed at the factory.
There is always the risk of blinding effect from the HID lights when one drove along highways, trunks and coastal roads, which could lead to accidents.
Those who support the ban question why anyone would install lights that posed such a hazard to other drivers.
A real hazard: Vehicles with xenon lights can blind oncoming motorists or those in front of it. “The driver might think it looks cool and his vehicle stands out, but the intense brightness can blind other drivers. If the department is serious about banning the lights, they should focus on better enforcement,’’ said a motorist, speaking on condition of anonymity.
While most welcome the enforcement, those who have the lights fitted on their vehicles are asking the authorities not to make it illegal.
Instead, motorists ask authorities to advise those with HID sets to adjust their headlights to a shorter range (meaning lower).
RTD guidelines state that any modifications made by car owners that can cause accidents, interference or danger to other road users can be penalised under the Motor Vehicle Rules (Construction and Use) 1959.
Vehicles installed with HID can compromise the vision of oncoming drivers or even those in front. Consumer associations for years have been calling for the ban on the use of xenon lights.
The Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) said improperly installed HID lights served no purpose other than to blind other motorists.
Locally-fitted HID lights from car accessory shops are usually bare-fitted ones with no supporting safety technology. The beams are improperly aligned for safe use and pose a danger to other motorists.
Based on a survey by CAP, xenon HID light packages consisting of only bulbs and ballast and compatible with the Proton Saga (previous model), cost only RM200.
These headlight sets are mostly imported from China, South Korea, Japan and Germany and have an advertised colour temperature range of between 4,300K and 12,500K (Kelvin Rating). A colour temperature of between 6,000K and 8,000K will closely replicate sunlight).
CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris, when contacted, said the RTD must immediately ban and use of xenon or HID headlamps on all cars whether local or imported.
Mohamed Idris said this was in view of the many complaints received from the public that cars fitted with these lights posed a danger to other drivers especially at night as they could be temporarily blinded.
“We have been highlighting this issue since 2004. These lights are normally used in European countries where the visibility is low due to mist and cold weather. In Malaysia, there is no need for such lights,” he said.
He added that most local cars fitted with these lights were able to do so through car accessory shops.
“We have asked the RTD and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to regulate the accessory shops,’’ said Mohamed Idris.
When contacted JPJ director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said enforcement on vehicles with illegally-fitted HID lights was an ongoing process.
He said although the local automotive industry follows the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the RTD had its own standards and vehicles installed with HID lights of more than 4,300K were issued summonses.
“These motorists have fixed bulbs illegally. We allow xenon lights on the roads but it must be properly aligned and it should not be more than the approved Kelvin Rating,’’ he added.
JPJ engineering department (automotive division) director Mohamed Dalib said the department measured the Kelvin Rating of a vehicle with xenon lights within a distance of 25ft.
“If the light source measured is more than 4,300K, than you will be summoned,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Solah said the department was in discussion with ministry officials on the next level of enforcement against HID lights.
