Maine Drivers Say ‘Enough!’ to Blinding Headlights

We’ve all been there, you are driving in Maine early in the morning or at night, it is dark and those headlights coming feel like they are trying to give you a second sun.

Blinding you, straight in the retinas.

Maine drivers are sick of this surge of bright, blinding lights. No, it is not the traditional headlights.

Experts say, this unwanted glare is from the aftermarket illegal LED headlights, according to WGME. It’s especially frustrating when the oncoming car is a taller vehicle like a truck or SUV.  

As pet the Maine State Police, the culprits are changing out their standard halogen headlight bulbs for high-lumen LED or HID lights.

These lights can sometimes even exceed 12,000 lumens, which far surpassed the federal limit of 3,000 lumens for LED headlights.  

Maine Drivers are Being Blinded by Illegal LED Headlights

The law caps the brightness but it also says your headlights must stay DOT approved and white. This is way easier said then done and enforcing it is also very tricky.  

When the vehicle with the illegal lights is higher like the Modern SUVS and trucks, the aim that comes from the beams blinds the eyes of drivers in smaller vehicles.  

There is a recent bill that is studying the problem in legislation now.  

But until anything goes into law, what are you supposed to do in the meantime?

According to the article, you can protect yourself by keeping your windshield clean, look at the roadside line instead of directly into those high beams, and use your rear view mirrors “night mode” if you have it.  

If you are one of the drivers that want to upgrade your lights, please just stick with the certified bulbs.

Because until they get this sorted out, Maine drivers are going blind!