Interpretation ID: aiam2834
Member
House of Representatives
Tower Box 59
2101 Executive Towers
Hampton
VA 23666;
Dear Mr. Trible: This is in response to the letter (enclosed) you received from you constituent Mr. Randy Churaman of Hampton, Virginia, concerning plexiglass covers for headlights.; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 197 proposed rulemaking to allow fixed plastic covers over motor vehicle headlights. However, during the comment period of the proposed rulemaking some controversial items that were raised regarding fixed plastic headlight covers initiated concerns with respect to motor vehicle safety. These concerns were that: (1) moisture condenses inside the plastic covers and greatly increases headlight glare to oncoming traffic, (2) the plastic covers get scratched, thus reducing headlight output and increasing headlight glare at the same time, (3) plastic headlight covers have to be removed to mechanically aim headlamps, which becomes quite expensive to the vehicle owner and (4) correct aim of headlights is often made incorrect when installing fixed plastic headlight covers. Finally, the change in air drag by use of plastic headlight covers is extremely small since the air drag is primarily related to the overall frontal area projection of the vehicle.; Because of the foregoing disadvantages, and no major advantage to fixe plastic headlight covers other than styling, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, *Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment*, prohibits fixed plastic covers over headlamps. Specifically, FMVSS No. 108 references SAE Standard J580a, which states in part... 'When in use, a headlamp shall not have any styling ornament or other feature, such as a glass cover or grill, in front of the lens.' There is, however, no prohibition on the installation of original equipment retractable clear plastic headlamp concealment devices on newly manufactured motor vehicles.; I trust the foregoing is fully responsive to your inquiry. Sincerely, Michael M. Finkelstein, Acting Associate Administrator fo Rulemaking;