“There is a need for a safer traffic environment for people with epilepsy.” – Southern Sweden

Winter is here. The importance of lighting and reflectors in traffic is clear. Seeing and being seen is vital. But bright, flashing lighting can also have a downside. People with epilepsy suffer from insecurity and are at risk if politicians, relevant professional groups and the general public lack adequate knowledge of the effects of light.

People with photosensitive epilepsy, or so-called photosensitive epilepsy, can have unnecessary and dangerous seizures if they are exposed to flashing lights – for example, flashing bicycle lights and traffic lights, blue lights on emergency vehicles, and warning lights on work vehicles and work sites on Roads.

It is important to The community is safe for all people and inclusive. It includes a safe and inclusive traffic environment for everyone moving in traffic.

There is a need for further discussion on the rules and guidelines for flashing lights in public environments and increased knowledge among the public, blue light personnel, road workers, transport vehicle drivers and other traffic officials about the problems that today’s lighting can cause for people with epilepsy and other affected groups. To reduce the risk of seizures caused by bright lights in traffic, politicians, authorities, businesses and others should investigate and take appropriate measures to:

• Organizing and providing guidelines For bright lights in public environments. Communicate the rules that apply to flashing bicycle lights, for example.

• Customize lighting design In public places and reduce the intensity or frequency of flashing lights.

• Use clear signage and information in areas where flashing warning lights and the like are used, so that people with epilepsy can try to avoid them and take a different route.

Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. About 5,500 people are diagnosed with epilepsy each year (about 4,000 adults and about 1,500 children). It is estimated that about 81,000 people have epilepsy in Sweden. The figures come from the National Board of Health and Social Care.

How an epileptic seizure is expressed can vary greatly from person to person – in terms of expression, intensity and duration – but the common thing is that it is caused by electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can be caused by several causes, one of the most well-known causes of which is flashing or flashing lights.

Photosensitive epilepsy is provoked From visual stimuli, especially those involving flashing lights or contrasting patterns of light and dark. The exact mechanism behind this is not fully understood. Certain light patterns that vary from person to person can overstimulate the brain, triggering a cascade of electrical activity in the brain that triggers a seizure.

Some people may only be sensitive to certain rates of blinking, while other epileptic conditions may be caused by certain colors or patterns. The intensity, duration, and proximity of the light source can also play a role.

In traffic, people are exposed to different types of bright lights, which can be trigger factors for people with epilepsy. Here are some examples:

• Flashing bike lights, It is a controversial point among cyclists and is also illegal on a headlight. You may have a blinking light in the back if it blinks more than 200 times per minute. However, these lights are sold without information about the problems they cause.

• Flashing traffic lights: Traffic lights with rapid flashing lights can be dangerous for people with photosensitive epilepsy who experience irritation with a certain frequency.

• Blue lights on emergency vehicles: Flashing lights on fire trucks, ambulances, or police cars can irritate people who are sensitive to intense or rapid flashing lights. Therefore, these lamps must be used based on knowledge of their effect on people with epilepsy.

• Warning lights on work vehicles And roadworks sites: so-called juice mixers or flashing lights used at roadworks sites and on vehicles.

Some types of flashing lights can be completely avoided, prevented, or done in a different way. Others may be used with greater caution.

There is a need for a safer traffic environment for people with epilepsy.

Writer

Bengt EliassonPresident of the Swedish Epilepsy Society

Do you want too? Writing about current issues? how to use.