LED cat's eyes may provoke epileptic fits

The UK's Highways Agency is investigating the possibility that a new breed of LED cat's eye might provoke epileptic fits, the BBC reports.

The agency was alerted to the possible problem by Rebecca Jasiczak who says that while driving along a stretch of the A12 near Witham in Essex, she "narrowly avoided a seizure" prompted by the solar-powered cat's eyes. The offending devices flash at 100 times a second, which created "a strobe-like effect which nearly triggered an epileptic fit", according to Jasiczak.

Her dad Martin Jasiczak said: "I'm very concerned for my daughter's sake and for other drivers."

The Highways agency confirmed it won't install any more LED cat's eyes until "the effect on people with epilepsy had been fully evaluated". A spokesman said: "We are keen to investigate why this problem has occurred." He added that the agency was considering the possibility that "the lights needed to be spaced differently". ®