Federal regulators say they're reviewing car headlamp and LED rules amid a rise in complaints about glaring headlights on roadways nationwide.(Photo by Bernd Wüstneck/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Federal regulators say they will rewrite rules on vehicle lighting to address growing complaints about glaring LED headlights on the roadways.
According to a news release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency will consult with industry stakeholders and safety advocates to examine how "modern headlighting technology" may increase glare on the road and look for ways to improve LEDs, dusk sensors and automatic high beams.
New rules for glaring headlights
What they're saying:
"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 news release.
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Big picture view:
The review comes amid a rise in complaints about glaring headlights on roadways nationwide. Most new cars come with LED headlights, which are much brighter than the older halogen lights, Reuters reports. Taller SUVs and trucks are also becoming more popular, which could be another factor in glare complaints, regulators said.
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NHTSA said this review will be different because it’s using a "negotiated rulemaking" process to address vehicle lighting standards. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will appoint up to 18 stakeholders from vehicle lighting manufacturers, motor vehicle equipment associations, safety organizations, research institutions, and engineering associations to take part.
Are glaring headlights dangerous?
By the numbers:
According to Reuters, headlights are blamed for only a small number of nighttime crashes. A 2025 study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that from 2015 to 2023, headlight glare was cited in one or two out of every 1,000 nighttime crashes. Drivers older than 70 seem to be impacted the most by glaring headlights.
Brightness standards haven’t changed since 1997, though the NHTSA in 2022 approved a rule allowing carmakers to install devices that adjust the headlights to dim portions directed at other vehicles.
The Source: This article includes information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Reuters.