NHTSA to modernize vehicle lighting rules, opening first negotiated rulemaking in 25 years
NHTSA is rewriting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, the rule that governs vehicle lighting, and will use negotiated rulemaking for the first time in more than 25 years to do it.
- Up to 18
- More than 25
- Nov. 9, 2026
- NHTSA-2026-1981
What Happened
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it is modernizing its outdated vehicle lighting standards to make America's roads safer for all drivers. The agency describes the update to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 as long overdue and as a demonstration of the Trump Administration's commitment to bolstering driver safety, slashing red tape, and embracing new technologies. NHTSA says today's standards do not allow automakers to deploy the latest safety-improving lighting technologies.
- Addressing headlight glare: examining the role modern headlighting technology plays in glare for other road users and making appropriate changes.
- Modernizing lighting technology: improving rules for LEDs, dusk sensors, automatic high beams, and replaceable light sources.
- Improving performance: evaluating how headlamp height and aim affect driver visibility.
- Updating testing and materials: streamlining test procedures for plastic optics and replaceable lenses.
- Aligning global standards: harmonizing U.S. vehicle lighting regulations with international safety standards.
“Today's standards do not allow automakers to deploy the latest safety-improving lighting technologies, so we are bringing key experts and stakeholders together to modernize our standards and address potential causes of glare. This collaborative approach will allow us to update outdated regulations, foster innovation, and keep everyone on our roads safer.”
More than 25years
This is the first time in more than 25 years the agency has used negotiated rulemaking to update its vehicle lighting standards.
To accelerate the rulemaking, NHTSA will consult industry stakeholders, safety advocates, and technical experts. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy will appoint up to 18 stakeholders drawn from vehicle lighting manufacturers, motor vehicle equipment associations, safety organizations, research institutions, and engineering associations. NHTSA is also soliciting public comments on the scope, the committee membership balance, and formal nominations for membership, all of which must be received by Nov. 9, 2026. Applications and comments can be submitted at www.regulations.gov under Docket No. NHTSA-2026-1981.
Previously from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Today's lighting announcement continues a broader deregulatory push at NHTSA. In July 2026, the agency moved to fast-track self-driving cars by approving Zoox robotaxi deployment, starting work on national AV performance standards, and streamlining exemption rules. In August 2026, NHTSA said it would stop regulating standalone truck engines, giving manufacturers freedom to design vehicles that meet fuel efficiency standards.
- NHTSA Cuts AV Red Tape: Approves Zoox Robotaxis, Moves to Create First-Ever Performance Standards
- NHTSA moves to reverse Obama-era rule on truck engine fuel efficiency
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's official releases.
Why this matters
Lighting standards decide what headlamps and other lights automakers may legally put on new vehicles, so this update reaches every U.S. car buyer, plus lighting manufacturers and other road users affected by glare. NHTSA says today's rules block the latest safety-improving lighting technology, and it is inviting public comment before it changes them.
Terms in This Story
- Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108
- The federal safety standard that sets requirements for vehicle lighting equipment.
- Negotiated rulemaking
- A process in which a regulator brings affected parties together to try to reach consensus on a rule before it is formally proposed.
- Headlight glare
- Bright or poorly aimed light from a vehicle's headlamps that can dazzle or temporarily blind other road users.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode, a semiconductor light source used in modern vehicle lighting.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.