The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has completed its latest evaluation of truck headlights and found many to be inadequate. Previous tests found car and SUV headlights inadequate as well.

The IIHS tested 11 pickup trucks, with 23 possible headlight combinations. The possible headlight combinations included halogen, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, and LEDs. Model years 2016 and 2017 were tested.

There are four possible ratings: Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor. Only one truck, the Honda Ridgeline, earned the top rating of “Good.” The GMA Sierra received an “Acceptable” rating. The Nissan Titan and the Ram 1500 had a “Marginal” rating. At the bottom of the heap, with a rating of “Poor” were:

  • Chevrolet Silverado
  • Chevrolet Colorado
  • Ford F-150
  • GMC Canyon
  • Nissan Frontier
  • Toyota Tundra
  • Toyota Tacoma

The Honda Ridgeline headlights with LED low beam headlight illuminated a distance of 358 feet and scored the top rating. But the Honda Ridgeline equipped with halogen headlights instead of LEDs received a “Poor” rating.

The Chevrolet Colorado had the worst headlights of all the trucks tested. Its halogen headlights only illuminated a distance of 124 feet.

The IIHS evaluated both the high-beam and low-beam performance of the truck headlights. They ran the tests on straight roads and curved roads. Glare toward oncoming traffic was one of the factors tested.

Headlight Inadequacies That Cause Crashes

A crash can result from either insufficient illumination or from disabling glare. For example, if headlights do not adequately illuminate the road in front of the driver, the driver may fail to see hazards or even other vehicles. And headlights that produce excessive glare can be disabling to other drivers, including drivers approaching from the other direction or drivers in front of high-mounted headlights.

If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in which inadequate truck headlights or glare might have been a factor, talk to a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer who can evaluate your claim and advise you about your legal rights. Do not let the insurance company pressure you into settling for less than your case is worth. Call Montero Law today at 954-767-6500 to schedule your free consultation.