Why are LED bulbs illegal for on-road use; technical question

[Brigadier]

For instance, these....

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/bosch-239-c5w-led-car-bulbs-x2

Just wondering.

 

[pete50]

Because they blind and dazzle oncoming drivers and it's not just LED. I bet you drive a BMW or an Audi as well.

 

[Nozzle]

But the image shows a filament lamp....

Nice one Halfords.

When they write "Suitable for interior and off road use only" - what on earth is meant by interior use... use only on the inside of the vehicle, or use only in the headlamp if the vehicle is in the garage? Both make no sense.

Nice one Halfords.

Edit: I see why now - if you google the part number Bosch 239 you get a totally different part, once that is for lighting of the interior (festoon type).. nothing illegal or dazzling about that!

Nozzle

 

[bernardgreen]

Some LED headlights are pulsed lights which can cause strobe effects in the vew the driver has of the road, other vehicles and road side items.

Is a reason for not allowing the particular LED to be used on the road ? I do not know the answer.

 

[Brigadier]

Because they blind and dazzle oncoming drivers and it's not just LED. I bet you drive a BMW or an Audi as well.

Why should they blind or dazzle anyone, any more than the standard fit ones in the headlamps anyway (provided those are properly aligned)?
It's just light, going in a specified direction.....

 

[foxhole]

who said they were illegal?

 

[Tigercubrider]

it may be a technical get out.
AFAIk lamps (you plant bulbs) are supposed to provide continuous light according to the road regs.
because the older LEDs were more prone to pulsing, or cycle lamps deliberately flashed, they were deemed not technically legal.

 

[rsgaz]

Doesn't it just mean that those lamps are not "E marked"?

I think they need to update the 'Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989' to include LEDs and HIDs, they only talk about filament lamps having to have the correct markings...

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/14/made

 

[Brigadier]

Because they blind and dazzle oncoming drivers and it's not just LED. I bet you drive a BMW or an Audi as well.

I bet you're a ****

 

[Brigadier]

https://greyhead.co.uk/other-things/are-aftermarket-hid-lights-legal-uk

Looks like @rsgaz barked up the correct tree.....

Something about E marking, and also having self-levelling and washing headlamps, as a minimum.

Also, too blue (6000k, rather than 5000k max.)

 

[DaveHerns]

I think it's because the LED bulbs have the light "centred" at a different place than halogens so the reflector and lens don't focus the light properly