U.S. moves to modernize headlight standards
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In a slow-shutter-speed photo, traffic flows on Interstate 405 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles. Photo: Kevin Carter/Getty Images
The Trump administration is pledging to modernize headlight standards, addressing a growing complaint among drivers about glare from powerful LED lights.
Why it matters: Industry experts say U.S. headlight regulations are severely outdated, creating dangerous driving conditions.
The latest: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Tuesday that it will implement new rules to address issues like headlight glare and testing, vowing to align U.S. regulations with global standards.
- The agency will use the "negotiated rule-making" procedure to expedite the process of adopting new regulations, effectively bringing interested parties to the table to help draft the standards.
The big picture: The U.S. legalized "adaptive driving beam" (ADB) headlights in 2022, years after they became mainstream in other markets, Axios' Joann Muller reported in August.
- But most existing headlight systems still can't be deployed here because U.S. standards are more restrictive, according to Matthew Brumbelow, principal research engineer at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
- "Today's standards do not allow automakers to deploy the latest safety-improving lighting technologies, so we are bringing key experts and stakeholders together to modernize our standards and address potential causes of glare," NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison said in a statement Tuesday.
- "This collaborative approach will allow us to update outdated regulations, foster innovation, and keep everyone on our roads safer," he added.
Some automakers have gone through the laborious process of creating new lighting technology from scratch — like Rivian, the first automaker to deploy ADB technology in the U.S. after the recent regulatory shift.
💭 My thought bubble: I remember writing in 2017 for USA Today about the headlight safety crisis — and somehow most cars still don't have advanced headlights. Maybe this rulemaking process will change that.
What's next: NHTSA said public comments can be submitted until Nov. 9.
