And what about areas without homes (or offices, etc.), such as highways between cities?

Let's see.

Surprise! It's Reed Hastings.

More crap from Florian Mueller?

Yes.

In December 2007, many of these state efforts became moot when the federal government enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires all general-purpose light bulbs that produce 310–2600 lumens of light[8] be 30% more energy efficient (similar to current halogen lamps) than current incandescent bulbs by 2012 to 2014. The efficiency standards will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014.

Light bulbs outside of this range are exempt from the restrictions (historically, less than 40 Watts or more than 150 Watts). Also exempt are several classes of specialty lights, including appliance lamps, rough service bulbs, 3-way, colored lamps, and plant lights.

By 2020, a second tier of restrictions would become effective, which requires all general-purpose bulbs to produce at least 45 lumens per watt (similar to current CFLs). Exemptions from the Act include reflector flood, 3-way, candelabra, colored, and other specialty bulbs. (emphasis mine)

Hmmm, it looks like this is another (successful) troll by a Congressional Republican.

It's more like leaving your door wide open and then complaining about privacy when people passing by look in.

If the NHTSA didn't exist Toyota would have had to spend money to fix the problem instead of paying ex-regulators to quash multiple investigations.

That's a nice false dichotomy you've set up. There is no proof, zero, that without the NHTSA Toyota would have spent any money on a fix. It's just as likely the executives would have spent it on their bonuses (or replacing worn out office chairs or investing in newer tech or hookers and blow, etc.).