Standards for Multiple-Beam Road Lighting Equipment

1. Law
2. Georgia Code
3. Motor Vehicles and Traffic
4. Equipment and Inspection of Motor Vehicles
5. Equipment Generally
6. Lighting Equipment
7. Standards for Multiple-Beam Road Lighting Equipment

Except as hereinafter provided in this part, the headlights or the auxiliary driving light or the auxiliary passing light or combination thereof on motor vehicles other than motorcycles or motor driven cycles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations, and such lights may, in addition, be so arranged that such selection can be made automatically, subject to the following limitations:

1. There shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading;
2. There shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead; and on a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver;
3. Every new motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or a motor driven cycle registered in this state which has multiple-beam road lighting equipment shall be equipped with a beam indicator which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the headlights is in use and shall not otherwise be lighted. Such indicator shall be so designed and located that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle so equipped.

(Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 556, § 113; Ga. L. 1955, Ex. Sess., p. 25, § 1; Code 1933, § 68E-211, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 165, § 4; Code 1981, §40-8-30, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 165, § 10.)

Code Commission notes.

- Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1985, in the first sentence of paragraph (3), commas were deleted following "indicator" and "use."

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1991, in the introductory language and in paragraph (3), "motor driven" was substituted for "motor-driven."

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Cited in Southeastern Liquid Fertilizer Co. v. Mock, 92 Ga. App. 270, 88 S.E.2d 531 (1955); Wood v. Atlantic Coast Line R.R., 192 F. Supp. 351 (M.D. Ga. 1960); Mathis v. Patrick, 109 Ga. App. 376, 136 S.E.2d 166 (1964); Cupp v. State, 111 Ga. App. 722, 143 S.E.2d 197 (1965); Seaboard C.L.R.R. v. Sheffield, 127 Ga. App. 580, 194 S.E.2d 484 (1972); Owens-Illinois, Inc. v. Bryson, 138 Ga. App. 78, 225 S.E.2d 475 (1976); Rothrock v. Martin, 138 Ga. App. 16, 225 S.E.2d 489 (1976); Ingram v. Jackson, 153 Ga. App. 201, 265 S.E.2d 29 (1980); Johnson v. UPS, 616 F.2d 161 (5th Cir. 1980).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 7A Am. Jur. 2d, Automobiles and Highway Traffic, § 205 et seq.

C.J.S.

- 60 C.J.S., Motor Vehicles, § 43 et seq. 60A C.J.S., Motor Vehicles, § 630 et seq.

ALR.

- Liability or recovery in automobile negligence action as affected by absence or insufficiency of lights on parked or standing motor vehicle, 61 A.L.R.3d 13.

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