Blinding Headlights Aren't Just Your Imagination

Those piercing headlights may feel new, but the complaints behind them aren't. In the Washington Post, Todd C. Frankel digs into why nighttime driving seems so glaring these days—and why federal rules haven't kept pace with the technology bolted to the front of modern cars and trucks. LEDs are a big factor: They're brighter, whiter, and often mounted higher on booming SUV and pickup models, putting the beam right at other drivers' eye level. "It forces automakers to balance conflicting safety goals—giving drivers enough light to see without blinding others," writes Frankel. Yet US standards still test headlights in a lab rather than on actual vehicles, and were written for an era of old-school bulbs.

Experts tell the Post that regulators are only now moving to revisit "outdated" lighting rules, consider public input, and look seriously at glare. Meanwhile, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has pushed automakers toward better designs, and recalls have hit GM, Subaru, and Tesla over overly intense lamps. The twist: a review of crash data suggests headlight glare rarely shows up as a primary cause of nighttime wrecks, and is more often blamed on one huge light source—low sun. For the full analysis and data, read Frankel's piece at the Washington Post.