Nighttime head-on collisions are a recurring problem on National Road No. 4 (RN4) connecting Mahajanga to the capital. According to drivers and passengers, one of the reasons for frequent nighttime accidents is the glare caused by the use of LED lighting on certain vehicles traveling on national roads at night, including bush taxis and trucks. The glare caused by poorly adjusted or non-compliant LED headlights is increasingly cited as an aggravating factor in nighttime accidents.
In Madagascar, the use of these lights is prohibited. The majority of public transport vehicles or bush taxis traveling on the RN4 at night are equipped with this lighting. “The use of dazzling, blinding, or non-approved LED headlights (non-regulatory or modified white lights) is strictly prohibited on roads at night. All lighting must be compliant and correctly oriented so as not to disturb other users,” stipulate the Highway Code Law No. 2017-002 and Decree 93-894, which strictly regulate vehicle lighting.
The Land Transport Agency (ATT) must take strict measures regarding the use of these LED headlights, as poorly oriented LED or xenon headlights generate very intense light (white/bluish light). When facing oncoming traffic, they temporarily blind drivers, preventing them from correctly estimating distances or anticipating the presence of another vehicle in a curve or on a straight line.
Last Saturday, two transport vehicles affiliated with a national cooperative, Volkswagen Sprinter models, collided around 11:30 PM at PK 256+700 in the fokontany of Begisa, rural commune of Antsiafabositra, Maevatanana district.
“Glare is often combined with speeding by public transport vehicles (bush taxis) traveling at night, making avoidance impossible. Both bush taxis were certainly speeding and collided inevitably,” stated a bush taxi driver.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-16 06:41:59 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/securite-routiere-lutilisation-des.html