Can you get pulled over in NC for having bright headlights? Here’s what the laws say
Bright headlights can be useful while driving on certain roads or dark highways, but they can also be a nuisance to other drivers.
Last month, a North Carolina resident posted about their frustration with high-beam headlights on Reddit.
“I feel like I’ve noticed a way higher number of people using their high beams all of the time,” the commenter wrote. “I see them inside city limits on roads with street lights. On interstate/limited access highways when everyone is traveling in the same direction. In the middle of the day for no apparent reason.”
Headlights are often brighter on newer vehicles due to updated technology.
Many newer vehicles are equipped with LED headlights. LED headlights became popular in the 2010s because they last longer and are more energy efficient than lights used on older vehicles, The New York Times reported.
But LED headlights can be excessively bright and cause glare for oncoming drivers. Some vehicles have even been recalled for headlights that are too bright, the Associated Press reported.
Here’s what to know about headlight laws in North Carolina.
Vehicle headlight laws in NC
While vehicle headlights must be bright enough for you to see 200 feet in front of your vehicle, state law indicates that it is illegal for lights to blind other drivers who are within 500 feet of you on the road, state law says.
Drivers are permitted to dim their headlights on highways when passing another vehicle, according to the law.
The most common charge related to headlights is failing to dim them when approaching another vehicle, which mostly occurs in rural areas, a spokesperson for N.C. State Highway Patrol told The Charlotte Observer in an email.
The penalty for failure to dim headlights is a fine of $50 plus court costs, the spokesperson said.
When are NC drivers required to use headlights?
According to the N.C. Department of Transportation, drivers must use headlights:
From sunset to sunrise
When light conditions restrict visibility to 400 feet or less
When using windshield wipers during inclement weather
How to avoid headlight glare
If you encounter bright headlights on the road, here are some ways you can reduce the glare, Lisa Conant wrote for Car Parts, an online resource for automotive maintenance information:
Don’t look directly at the lights
Wear protective eyewear, like nighttime driving glasses
Make sure your windshield and mirrors are clean
Remove dirt from your wiper blades
Use the night setting on your rearview mirror
Rest during long drives if your eyes start to feel fatigued
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