High beam lights taking toll on lives

LB Nagar: In spite of regular warnings, several four-wheeler and two-wheeler companies are fixing Light Emitting Diode (LED), High Intensity Discharge (HID) lIn spite of regular warnings, several four-wheeler and two-wheeler companies are fixing Light Emitting Diode (LED), High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps to their vehicles, resulting in inconvenience to the pedestrians and to other riders. According to sources, it is a regular affair on NH65, where buses and four-wheelers travel from Hyderabad to different destinations.

Eye specialists warn that the high beam lights create a lot of strain to the eyes. It also creates an impact on eyes immediately and causes a blur in vision, which may even lead to accidents in major cases. The number of deaths on NH65 was 335 in 2015, and it touched 415 in 2018, according to the police department. Among them, doctors assume nearly 40% are due to high beam lights.

"Retina gets weaker due to the exposure to high focus lights. It may lead to Photophobia. Symptoms like headache, watering eyes and itching will be there in initial stage and later it leads to severe problems," says B Srinivas Rao, an ophthalmologist. He added, "RTA officers should take a severe action regarding the high beam lights or else the future generations will have to use spectacles from their Kindergarten."

"We are not forcing any manufacturing companies to fix these lights. They are using for their promotions, and they are affecting eyes. Though we have an option to replace them, no one likes to damage the originality," says Bhaskar Reddy, a business developer.

"It is dangerous to venture at nights. These lights from opposite vehicles sometimes make us blind for a few seconds, which is dangerous," says Ch Srinadh, a private employee, who once met with an accident, as he failed to properly negotiate the high density light that came from opposite vehicle.

"We are not even able to recognize the vehicle coming in the opposite direction. It creates a lot of disturbance while driving, especially on single roads. The RTA and the police department need to become vigilant," says Anila, a BTech student.

"People use eye drops to reduce strain and itching of eyes. This is because of the high beam and LED lights. Though it looks stylish on vehicles, it's not safe," says Srinu Baratam, a medical representative.