US approves new headlights that won’t blind oncoming drivers

fox13 ^

[algore]

DETROIT – Anyone who has ever been temporarily blinded by high-beam headlights from an oncoming car will be happy to hear this.

U.S. highway safety regulators are about to allow new high-tech headlights that can automatically tailor beams so they focus on dark areas of the road and don't create glare for oncoming drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it issued a final rule allowing what's called “adaptive driving beam headlights” on new vehicles. It will go into effect when published in the Federal Register in the next few days.

The headlights, commonly used in Europe, have LED lamps that can focus beams on darkness such as the driver's lane and areas along the roadside. They also lower the intensity of the light beams if there's oncoming traffic. Camera sensors and computers help determine where the light should go.

"This final rule will 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,” the agency said in a news release on Tuesday.

The new rule, which was supported by the auto industry, comes as the safety agency grapples with a dramatic rise in traffic deaths nationwide.

[algore]

Will also lighten up your wallet

[SaxxonWoods]

But you can only drive about 10mph because you can’t see.

[Dr. Sivana]

E-code lights were really good in the incandescent days. I got them for my wife’s ‘73 Dart. I don’t know about now.

[READINABLUESTATE]

Sounds expensive.

[rlmorel]

Yes. I am all for introducing technology, and am fine if this is an optional thing. But I will guess they will make it mandatory.

Damn it, I just want government to stay out of my effing life.

[George from New England]

Only cost $800 to repair when they stop working.

[Skwor]

Gee I wonder what could go wrong? This just screams “rule of unintended consequences?:

Guess I need to read up on the technology of those headlights now.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Some LED’s drive me crazy.

[Dr. Sivana]

But you can only drive about 10mph because you can’t see.

No. E-code lights light up the road and right side (in non-UK/Jap/Aus, etc.) so they are coded right and left. They focus the light on the road ahead. US-DOT lights are better at lighting up objects that are falling from the sky in front of you.

[Skwor]

I recall LED lights being a real problem in the winter as they give of little to no heat. many traffic lights became useless because of this a few years ago in the snowier states.

Can see headlights no becoming useless in the winter?

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

But you can only drive about 10mph because you can’t see.

---

Just like the Dodge Charger I rented recently. Driving around the dark roads at the Biltmore Estate at speeds never exceeding 30 MPH was terrifying - and the high-beams did NOT help. Worst headlights I’ve ever dealt with.

[shotgun]

I had this thought pop into my head this morning on the way to work:

Why do new cars even have headlight switches? They all come with automatic headlights so why do I need a switch to select “parking lights”, “On”, “Off”, or “automatic”. I just need a switch to turn on my driving/fog lights

[1Old Pro]

yea, how much is it going to cost us.

[HighSierra5]

That’s what those reflectors are for in the middle of the road. So blind people can drive.

[MercyFlush]

“Some LED’s drive me crazy.”

Like the red and blue ones you always see in your rearview mirror?

:-P

[Blue Highway]

I still don’t get why people are driving in residential areas with highbeams on. I will flash them my highbeams in hopes they turn it off and they must be blind as they just keep driving on with highbeams.

[Dr. Sivana]

I recall LED lights being a real problem in the winter as they give of little to no heat. many traffic lights became useless because of this a few years ago in the snowier states.

E-Code lights have nothing to do with being LED or not. Just as there are LED and non-LED DOT replacement lights. Even with standard headlights, you have to wipe them off first thing in the morning if you are parked outside. Mercedes-Benz used to make headlamps with little wipers (very silly). If you are talking about the kind of blizzard where the snow accumulates WHILE driving at night, and you cannot just avoid driving, you will have to pull over periodically for the rear and side windows (assuming the defroster keeps the main windshield ok). You would wipe your headlamps then, too. It is not quite the same deal as traffic lights.

[Dr. Sivana]

yea, how much is it going to cost us.

In my experience, less than a new key fob in a newer car, and somehow people bought into that.

[Parmy]

Gee! What could go wrong?

[shotgun]

My 2011 Cadillac SRX requires the whole nose body assembly to be removed from the car to replace the bulbs.

My headlight on the passenger side went out and I couldn’t believe the amount of work to change a bulb. But I kept looking around until I figured out that I could remove the air box and access the light housing and then remove the back plate and install the bulb. It also has the power motors that turn the headlights when the car turns. I had to make sure I didn’t drop the tiny screws for that assembly, or I would have had a real mess.

But there is still no way to access the driver side light without dropping the nose off the car.