Ban Blinding Headlights! NHTSA Response Letter - 2026 Studies
Dear Supporters,
As as result of my request for a Congressional Inquiry as a constituent of Representative Mike Thompson, NHTSA issued a response letter. (https://www.softlights.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NHTSA_Document_260805_113719.pdf)
The NHTSA letter confirms that they are initiating two studies in 2026 to study lower beam headlamp glare as requested by Congress. However, the letter is light on details and doesn't reference the 80,000+ signatures on this petition and NHTSA still chose to refer to the "misaligned headlights" bogeyman that is not the actual problem.
While this letter represents progress, we need to push NHTSA to be more transparent. I encourage you to contact your own Representative in the House. You can present this letter and tell your Representative that we need more details. For example, here are a few additional questions:
1. Will NHTSA address the 80,000+ signatures and 4,000+ comments on the Ban Blinding Headlights and Save Lives! petition?
2. Will NHTSA liaison with the FDA as required under 21 U.S.C. 360ii to ensure that LED headlamps are photobiologically safe?
3. Will NHTSA address the formal regulatory petitions submitted by the Soft Lights Foundation to set an overall maximum limit on luminous intensity and spectral power distribution?
4. Will NHTSA measure the "luminance" of the LED headlamps as was done in the TRL study in the Department for Transportation in the United Kingdom?
5. Will NHTSA liaise with the FDA to address the neurological impacts of Pulse Width Modulation and digital flicker from LED headlights?
6. Who is the project manager at NHTSA for these studies and how do members of the public and experts submit information for these studies?
After your Representative submits the Congressional Inquiry on your behalf, the wait time for a response from NHTSA is 2-3 months.
Sincerely,
Mark Baker
President
Soft Lights Foundation
www.softlights.org
mbaker@softlights.org
X: @softlights_org
Bluesky: @softlights-org.bsky.social