NHTSA to Rewrite US Headlight Rules via Negotiated Rulemaking
The agency says current standards block the newest lighting safety tech and will also examine potential causes of glare.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it will begin a negotiated rulemaking process to rewrite the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards covering car headlights, according to Ars Technica.
NHTSA's Jonathan Morrison said the current standards do not allow automakers to deploy the latest lighting technologies that could improve safety.
The rulemaking is intended to modernize those standards and to address potential causes of glare.
US headlight rules have historically been slow to change, a major reason automotive lighting technology has lagged in the US. At the time Ars began covering cars, automakers including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota and Volvo were trying to import adaptive headlight technology, and the FMVSS then allowed only fixed high- and low-beams.
Quick answers
What did NHTSA announce about headlight rules?
NHTSA announced a negotiated rulemaking process to rewrite the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for car headlights.
Why is NHTSA updating the headlight standards?
Jonathan Morrison said current standards do not allow automakers to deploy the latest safety-improving lighting technologies. The rulemaking also aims to address potential causes of glare.