Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026

(a) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, Secretary of Transportation (in this section referred to as the Secretary), acting through the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology, and in consultation with the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate entity with relevant expertise, as determined by the Secretary, to—

(1) conduct a study on the effects of high-intensity light-emitting diode (LED), matrix LED, and other emerging headlamp technologies with respect to driver visibility, glare exposure, and roadway safety; and

(2) make recommendations relating thereto.

(b) Contents

(1) Study. The study under subsection (a) may include any of the following:

(A) An assessment of any of the following:

(i) Luminous intensity, total luminous flux, and beam-pattern characteristics of headlamp technologies utilized in road vehicles.

(ii) The role of vehicle mounting height and headlamp aim in real-world glare exposure, including the geometric interaction between headlamps and occupants of preceding or oncoming vehicles, across a range of vehicles and vehicle mounting heights.

(iii) The physiological and cognitive effects of high-intensity headlamp exposure on the following:

(I) Drivers, with particular attention to older drivers, as defined by the appropriate entity referred to in such subsection, and drivers with cataracts or other visual impairments.

(II) The ability of drivers to visually identify and avoid vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.

(B) An analysis of the adequacy of existing headlamp photometric test procedures to address the luminance, spectral, and glare characteristics of high-intensity LED, matrix LED, and other emerging headlamp technologies.

(2) Recommendations. The recommendations under subsection (a) may include a recommendation regarding how to mitigate a negative finding of the study under such subsection with respect to the effect of high-intensity LED, matrix LED, or another emerging headlamp technology on driver visibility, glare exposure, or roadway safety.

(c) Report. Not later than two years after entering into an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available on a website of the Department of Transportation, a report that includes information relating to the findings of the study conducted pursuant to such subsection and the recommendations relating thereto.