How headlights got brighter, whiter, and more blinding after dark

Automotive manufacturers have increased headlight brightness and shifted toward white light over the past decade through LED and HID technology adoption. Drivers and safety regulators have reported complaints about glare from oncoming vehicles, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been monitoring. Headlight standards in the United States are set by the Society of Automotive Engineers, which has updated regulations multiple times to balance visibility improvements with glare reduction requirements.

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