---
title: O.C.G.A. § 40-8-31. Use of multiple-beam road lighting equipment.
collection: code
id: 40-8-31
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 40-8-31 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-31
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-31.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-31/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t40-ch6-16-(v29)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=97c394d6_0#page=493
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-30.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC / EQUIPMENT AND INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES / EQUIPMENT GENERALLY / LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 40-8-31. Use of multiple-beam road lighting equipment.

Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder adjacent thereto during the times specified in Code Section 40-8-20, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:

(1) Whenever a driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, such driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver. The lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, specified in paragraph (2) of Code Section 40-8-30 shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times, regardless of road contour and loading; and

(2) Whenever the driver of a vehicle follows another vehicle within 200 feet to the rear, except when engaged in the act of overtaking and passing, such driver shall use a distribution of light permissible under this chapter other than the uppermost distribution of light specified in paragraph (1) of Code Section 40-8-30.

## History

Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 556, § 114; Ga. L. 1955, Ex. Sess., p. 25, § 1; Code 1933, § 68E-212, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 165, § 4; Code 1981, § 40-8-31, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 165, § 10; Ga. L. 1989, p. 14, § 40.