DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
451 HIGH STREET
George Voinovich COLUMBUS, OH 43210 Ralph G. Pacheco
Governor Phone (614) 445-8627 Director
FAX (614) 445-3225
BULLETIN NO. 91-92
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DATE: January 7, 1992
TO: All Ohio Insurance Agents
FROM: Ohio Department of Insurance
SUBJECT: Automobile Dimmer Switches
Pursuant to the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles Act No. 97-12, all motor vehicles sold in
the State of Ohio after February 15, 1992, will be required to have the headlight dimmer
switch mounted to the floorboard. The dimmer switch must be mounted in a position accessible
to operation by pressing the switch by the left foot. The switch must be far enough removed
from the left foot pedals to avoid inadvertent operation or pedal confusion.
Included in the above act and beginning June 1, 1992, all other vehicles with steering column
mounted dimmer switches must be retrofitted with a floorboard mounted dimmer switch of the
type described above. The steering column mounted dimmer switch must be disabled or removed
from the vehicle. Vehicles which have not made this change will fail the forthcoming Ohio
Safety Inspection program which will begin on this date.
It is recognized that this will cause some hardship for the driving public. However, this
change is being made in the interest of public safety. Ohio DMV Act 92-13 will revert all Ohio
motor vehicles to the prevalent dimmer system in use prior to the influx of foreign market
vehicles. A recent study entitled the "Inflation Sequence in Ohio Nightime Highway Traffic
Accidents" was conducted jointly by the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles and the Ohio
Department of Motor Vehicle Research. It has shown that 96% of all Ohio nightime highway
accidents are caused by a blonde getting her foot caught in the steering wheel........
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