The use of unapproved and excessively bright headlights from vehicles and motorcycles is affecting visibility on major roads in the Northern Region.
The situation is becoming increasingly common, especially along highways and in urban centres where traffic density is high and road lighting is inadequate.
The strong beams make it difficult for drivers, riders and pedestrians to clearly see lane markings, potholes and oncoming traffic.
This is causing road crashes, especially at night.
Some of the road users who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed concern over the increasing usage of the unapproved vehicle headlights.
A motorist, Alhassan Abdul Gafuru, said the powerful glare often obstructs drivers’ vision, increasing the risk of road crashes.
"Last month, I veered off the road for one of the intercity trucks to pass, because my vision was blurred I couldn't see again. Lucky enough, though, there was no damage from my vehicle," he stated.
Another driver, John Nkaw, said the poor road network, coupled with the use of unapproved headlights, was posing a threat to lives on the roads.
"I just had a flat tyre last night because the truck loading tomatoes and onions on the road from Burkina Faso raises such unauthorised high lights on me, and I hit a pothole," he stressed.
A driver, Kwame Takyi, who has fixed such headlamps on his vehicle, explained that the light helps them to identify potholes from afar.
He added that "with the high lights, it is easier to identify smaller and bigger potholes on the road to prevent us from hitting them".
Enforcement
The Northern Regional Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) Commander for the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Richard Odartey, said the police had intensified efforts to clamp down on the unauthorised use of high lights.
The blinding headlights pose a risk to motorists and other road users
He cautioned drivers against modifications that exceed approved standards to avoid causing hazards to other road users.
According to data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the Northern Region recorded 34 accidents, involving 57 vehicles and 20 deaths between January and June 2025.
Over the same period, 42 persons were injured and six pedestrians run over and killed.
Over the same period, the country recorded 1,301 pedestrian run-overs across the country. This figure shows a 6.9 per cent increase, compared to the same period in 2024.
