European vehicles with adaptive driving beam headlights increase roadway lighting by as much as 86% compared to low-beam headlights in the US
New vehicles being delivered in SA – depending on specifications – are increasingly showing evidence of new technology, all of which are geared to make for safer driving. Ironically enough ‘not all technology is equal.’ One such example is that of adaptive headlights where European vehicles equipped with adaptive driving beam headlights increase roadway lighting by as much as 86% when compared to US low beam headlights, according to new research from AAA in the US.
The report also finds that the average illumination for high beam is 12.5% higher for European specification as compared to US specification headlamps.
The new research is the latest in a series of studies conducted by AAA since 2015 that examines the limitations of US headlights.
While only 25% of driving is done at night, 52% of driver fatalities and a staggering 75% of pedestrian deaths happen after dark.
However, 64% of motorists do not regularly use their high beams, according to earlier AAA research. This means when driving at moderate speeds like 40 mph with low beams on, motorists will not have enough time to appropriately react to something or someone in the roadway.
High beams, however, improve forward illumination by 28% in comparison and are much more effective at providing the proper amount of light when traveling at higher speeds. With the European tech, the high beams are always on and when another vehicle is detected, that area is shaded to prevent glare that would otherwise interfere with the other driver’s field of vision.
While this may not be noticeable to the average driver it is of concern that buyers don’t always get what they expect.
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