Every year, cars and trucks become more and more technologically advanced. Some of the new technologies are related to comfort and entertainment within the vehicles. However, most of the new systems and devices we see each year are related to making vehicles safer for drivers and passengers. One of the more recent safety advances we see in newer vehicles are smart headlights. Smart headlights work like any old headlight but with a few new features. They are also often referred to as adaptive headlights.
With smart headlights, your vehicle turns your high beams on and off for you when it senses oncoming vehicles at night. A smart headlight can also adjust its beam to anticipate oncoming corners and turns so that a driver can have the most coverage of the road in front of them as possible. The bottom line is this new technology makes vehicles safer overall, decreasing the risk of a car accident.
Why Did It Take So Long for Smart Headlights to Be Introduced Here?
The technology for smart or adaptive headlights has been available for years. They have been used in Europe and Asia for over a decade. Therefore, why has it taken so long for U.S. auto manufacturers to implement the technology in our vehicles? Outdated regulations have kept the technology from being implemented, until now. With the passing and signing of the Biden administration’s infrastructure bill in 2021, the Secretary of Transportation is tasked with making adaptive headlights a reality in our national fleet of vehicles. These will be a great improvement over traditional headlights.
How Will These New Headlights Make Driving Safer?
Smart headlights be able to do the simple tasks of automatically turning the high beams on and off as vehicles approach, while at the same time pointing the beams downward to prevent blinding drivers in oncoming vehicles. The lights will also steer the beams as the car goes around curves or turns to illuminate as much of the road as possible. However, they will be able to do much more. Adaptive headlights can project patterns onto the road to help drivers see when a lane ends. The headlights will be able to project symbols on the road to warn drivers. The options with this type of technology are endless.
Owing to the new technology, experts suggest that many car and truck accidents will be prevented, particularly many accidents that occur at night and involve pedestrians. A 2019 study from AAA has found that the new headlights would prevent thousands of crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists annually. The automobile club’s study has also predicted 18,000 fewer accidents involving wildlife. Every year, there are approximately 300,000 accidents involving animals on the roadways. This could also save up to $500 million per year in property damage.
Although smart headlights have been around for a while, they are still in their early stages of development. Many people, especially the elderly, have difficulties driving at night. One problem that all motorists face when driving at night is being dazzled by oncoming car lights. Individuals who already have problems with glare while driving at night may be easily blinded. Being blinded by high beams can easily cause collisions, where drivers might swerve or even drive off the edge of the road and lose control of their vehicle.
Also, just with any system that works automatically, it will be less of a distraction for drivers. If a driver does not have to think about turning off their high beams, it is one less thing that the driver must do. It allows drivers to pay more attention to what they are doing and to the road in front of them.
Why Do Drivers Have Difficulty Seeing at Night?
Oncoming vehicle light is one of the most common causes of nighttime vision problems. Headlights, full beams, and fog lights are intended to assist drivers see at night, but they may also have negative consequences. Glare might be distracting, annoying, and impair your reaction time. Therefore, what can you do about it? Presbyopia is a condition that affects vision with age and makes it difficult for you to focus on close objects. If you are experiencing blurriness or if it has been a while since your last eye examination, it may be time to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. Obviously, your eye doctor can check your prescription to see if you need a change to your eyeglasses or contact lenses, assuming you wear them. Also, if you wear glasses, there is a form of coating that can be put on your current lenses that is designed to help with the glare of oncoming headlights and the glare that comes off street signs.
Astigmatism is a condition in which the shape of your eyeballs causes light to be focused in more than one place, which can cause blurriness. Astigmatism can also have an impact on how you see lights such as car headlights and streetlamps, causing the light to glare or have halos and streaks of light. This might cause drivers to squint to see the road in front of them, which is obviously dangerous because it can cause accidents.
Mount Laurel Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Office of David S. Rochman Advocate for Clients after a Car Accident
Thanks to emerging technology such as smart headlights, the chance of getting into an accident is decreasing. Unfortunately, accidents still happen at disturbing rates. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, reach out to the Mount Laurel car accident lawyers at the Law Office of David S. Rochman. Our legal team is available to fight for your rights to recover damages for your injuries. Call us at 856-751-2345 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation. Located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout Mount Laurel and surrounding areas.