Headlights and other lights on a vehicle help make it visible at night or during times of inclement weather. They also allow drivers to spot vehicles, pedestrians and even animals near them on the road.
The law requires that most motor vehicles have headlights installed. However, it is up to motorists to maintain and properly utilize their headlights. People involved in crashes may have certain complaints about the headlights on another vehicle. They may claim that the vehicle’s headlights were too bright, affecting their ability to monitor their surroundings. They might also accuse a driver of failing to use their headlights when appropriate.
What are the rules about headlight use in North Dakota?
The times when headlights are necessary
North Dakota traffic laws clearly indicate that drivers should always have had lights illuminated beginning at sunset and ending at sunrise, as well as during times of inclement weather. Sometimes, complaints about overly-bright headlights involve daytime running lamps that are on when they are not technically necessary. Drivers generally need to ensure their headlights are on and operational whenever they intend to drive during transitional times of day or after the sun has set.
The exceptions for headlight regulations
North Dakota’s state statutes do include a few important exceptions for headlight regulations. For example, farm equipment may not have the standard lights used by most other vehicles. Given that these vehicles do not operate on the road at all times, the law does allow certain exceptions for farm vehicles provided they have some lights and warning signs.
There are also certain exceptions for lighting rules extended to emergency vehicles like ambulances and also to commercial trucks. Otherwise, vehicles generally need to conform to certain standards regarding the placement and brightness of their headlights and any other vehicle lights.
When headlights might be illegal
Technically, the vehicles delivered by manufacturers usually conform to all regulations regarding the placement and brightness of the built-in light systems. That being said, consumers sometimes invest in aftermarket upgrades, such as installing brighter bulbs, which can lead to non-compliance with state statutes.
Vehicles generally should not have additional lights installed unless they qualify for exemptions as emergency vehicles or commercial vehicles. People cannot add decorative LEDs or black lights to their vehicles just to make them look a certain way. They also have to ensure that any new headlight bulbs they install actually conform to North Dakota laws.
In scenarios where drivers do not follow the law, they may not be adequately visible to others. Other times, their vehicles can be a distraction or can negatively impact someone’s night vision and ability to drive safely. Those involved in motor vehicle crashes related to inappropriate vehicle illumination may have grounds to hold the other driver accountable. Both insurance claims and lawsuits are sometimes possible when a vehicle features lights that do not conform to state regulations or that a driver did not properly maintain and use as the law requires.