Drivers blinded by lights, it’s not just your imagination. There are cars on the road with very bright lights that are illegal.
Two years after Tesla told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the low beam headlights on some Tesla EVs exceeded the light limit, the company’s move to make those lights legal on the road has failed. NHTSA has denied Tesla’s request to avoid the recall, which means the company will need to issue repairs to nearly 20,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from 2017 to 2023 for a problem the company calls “non-critical.”
A representative for Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tesla argued in its petition that because the flashing light in question falls outside the field of vision of oncoming drivers, “the non-compliance is irrelevant as it relates to vehicle safety.”
In her response, NHTSA’s associate director of enforcement Eileen Sullivan wrote, “NHTSA disagrees with Tesla’s conclusion that there is no increased risk of dependence on surrounding traffic or the subject vehicle’s driver in any driving conditions.”
The agency countered, citing public comments, that the lights could still emit light that could distract other drivers.
The team talked about a similar decision it made in 2022 involving GM Terrain vehicles.
For Tesla owners, the NHTSA decision means the company must offer free repairs for affected vehicles.
Additional steps are possible
NHTSA does not comment on pending legislation, including its denial of Tesla’s request, but in an email to CNET, a spokesperson said the agency is reviewing studies on LED-headlamp glare and may take further action based on its findings.
“Other problems can arise from improper use of high beams, illegal aftermarket headlights, improperly adjusted headlights or improperly adjusted headlights,” the spokesperson wrote.
Flashing lights are illegal, and non-compliant devices can be allowed to be sold on platforms such as Amazon, while drivers who use flashing lights can face increased fines, suspension of their driver’s license or legal liability.
“Although headlight technology has changed over the years, NHTSA’s lighting standard remains the same for reducing the amount of glare directed at oncoming and oncoming traffic,” the spokesperson said.
SUVs, which stay longer on the road than sedans, have become popular vehicles in the US. That, combined with LEDs taking over as the leading headlight technology, has made many people realize that high-intensity low beams seem bright and difficult to avoid.
Some modern cars benefit from adaptive lighting technology that can adjust the brightness, direction or light pattern as driving conditions change, but most cars on the road are not equipped with these systems.
Bright lights in the light of congress
Earlier this year, the US House of Representatives joined the discussion about bright lights with the introduction of a bill from Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Democrat from Washington state.
The LIGHT Safety Act would set maximum permissible light limits for low-beam headlights on US vehicles. So far, the proposal has only been sent to committee, which means it has been given to a House panel for initial review, and no further action has been taken since March.
The bill aims to update existing government standards by establishing a maximum allowable light for low beams.
