Regulate The Brightness Of Automobile Headlights To Reduce Glare And Improve Nighttime Driving Safety.

 

Regulate the brightness of automobile headlights to 1000 candelas per headlight at specified glare points to prevent

blinding other drivers.

 

In recent years, automobile manufacturers have increasingly installed high-intensity headlights, particularly LED and

HID bulbs, which can cause dangerous glare. Not only are manufacturers contributing to this issue, but many people are

installing aftermarket headlights that are too bright. This glare can contribute to accidents, particularly at night and

in poor weather conditions. To avoid such accidents, headlights will be limited to 1000 candelas per headlight at glare

points, which can be measured in the field by officers using lux meters. The limit of 1000 candelas has been chosen for

many reasons. According to Blackwell, H.R. & Blackwell, O.M., in a study they did on headlight brightness’s effects on

vision, a source producing 0.3–0.5 lux at the eye (≈800–1,200 cd at 50 m distance) begins to cause a measurable 15–20 %

drop in target visibility. It is super dangerous for drivers to be losing more than 20% of their vision at night, and

putting a limit right at this point would stop this from happening.

In the field, officers can measure the candelas of the headlights with a lux meter set at a fixed distance from the

vehicle's headlights. The lux meter will take a reading of the headlights' brightness, and by putting it in a simple

formula (cd=lux×(distance in meters)^2), you can easily find out the candelas of the headlights.

 

By implementing limits on headlight brightness in Minnesota, we can significantly reduce the number of situations in

which drivers are temporarily blinded, forcing them to make split-second decisions under unsafe conditions. When a

driver’s vision is impaired by glare, even the most careful and experienced motorist can make a critical mistake,

sometimes with tragic consequences. These accidents are not the result of chance—they are entirely preventable through

thoughtful regulation of vehicle lighting. Establishing clear brightness limits is a simple, practical, and effective

measure that prioritizes public safety, protects lives, and ensures that driving at night does not become a gamble with

potentially deadly outcomes.

 

 

Glare Points - specific locations in a low-beam headlight’s beam pattern where light can shine into the eyes of oncoming

or preceding drivers.

Glare - Excessive brightness that temporarily impairs another driver’s ability to see the road.

Candela (cd) - unit of luminous intensity that measures the amount of light emitted by a source in a particular

direction. For headlight regulation, it specifies how bright the lamp is at a given angle in the beam pattern.

Lux (lx) - unit of illuminance that measures the amount of light falling on a surface. It is related to candela by

distance.

Lux Meter - A small device that measures how much light hits a surface

 

Funding will come from existing Minnesota Department of Public Safety traffic safety allocations, federal NHTSA Section

402 Highway Safety Program grants, and a portion of traffic citation revenue from headlight violations.

 

Officers may measure headlight brightness on the field using a lux meter. If it is not clear whether the headlight

exceeds legal limits, the driver will be directed to a DOT facility for inspection. DOT inspections are quick and

accurate.

First offense: fix-it ticket or $100 fine. Repeat offenses: $300 fine and mandatory removal of noncompliant headlights.

Enforcement will be conducted by state and local law enforcement during routine traffic stops and inspections.

 

 

January 1, 2027