NHTSA to Rewrite Vehicle Lighting Standards to Reduce Glare

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Tuesday that it will rewrite federal vehicle lighting standards to reduce headlight glare and integrate modern safety technologies. The agency intends to update regulations governing LEDs, automatic high beams, dusk sensors, and replaceable light sources, while examining how headlamp height and aim impact visibility.

This regulatory shift follows a rise in complaints about glare, which has been intensified by the widespread use of bright LED lights and the increasing prevalence of taller SUVs and trucks. Federal brightness standards have not been updated since 1997. While the agency is moving forward with these changes, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that glare is a factor in only one or two out of every 1,000 nighttime crashes, suggesting insufficient visibility is a more significant cause of accidents.

To implement the updates, the agency will employ a negotiated rulemaking process. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will appoint up to 18 experts from research institutions, safety organizations, and manufacturers to assist in the modernization effort.