Adaptive Driving Beam Headlights Designed To Help Avoid Accidents

I’ve noticed over the past few years, those new, bright headlights both LED and ‘HID’ (high-intensity discharge – also called Xenon Lights), are found on more and more vehicles, specifically new models.

They look cool for sure. Some may call it a sexy look on a vehicle. But for those of us who are in the opposite lane when approaching a vehicle with these types of headlights, it can be blinding. You know the saying “Like a deer caught in the headlights.” That is how I feel, and I have to force myself from looking at the headlights and contract on the road ahead.

I’ve even been distracted when a vehicle with those types of headlights is behind me. The light from those headlights can shine brightly off my mirrors.

Well, there may be some changes to types of vehicle headlights according to the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On February 15th, the NHTSA announced a rule that will allow automakers to install adaptive driving beam headlights on new vehicles.

The rule is “designed to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists by making them more visible at night, and will help prevent crashes by better illuminating animals and objects in and along the road” according to the NHTSA website.

Basically it works as an automatic headlight beam switching technology and is designed to shine more light on unoccupied areas and less on occupied areas like oncoming vehicles. And hopefully, this will eliminate any blinding light issues when approaching vehicles on our roads from the opposite direction, or even from behind you as well.

The My Twin Tiers website mentions that these types of headlights are common in European countries. This could help reverse the current rise in nationwide traffic deaths.

via United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, My Twin Tiers