LETTER: Low-tech headlights make driving in U.S. more dangerous than in Europe and Canada

Driving at night carries the highest fatality rate for both drivers and pedestrians, but could be made safer by headlight technology already on the roads in Europe and Canada. 

New research from AAA found that European vehicles equipped with adaptive driving beam headlights (ADB) increase roadway lighting by as much as 86% when compared to U.S. low beam headlights.     

AAA believes this technology, not presently allowed by U.S. standards, is the first real solution to providing more light for drivers at night and we support changes in the law to allow ADB to be used to its full capability.

Previous AAA research found that 64% of American drivers do not regularly use their high beams. This means when driving at moderate speeds like 40 mph with low beams, motorists will not have enough time to react to something or someone in the roadway. 

High beams, however, improve forward illumination and are much more effective at providing the proper amount of light when traveling at higher speeds. With ADB, the high beams are always on. When another vehicle is detected, that area is shaded to prevent glare that would otherwise interfere with the other driver’s field of vision.

Following a petition from Toyota, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed an amendment last fall to allow manufacturers the option of equipping vehicles with ADB systems. 

A new headlight standard and testing protocol could still be a few years away, which means drivers should take other precautions when driving at night. 

We recommend:

When driving after dark on unlit roadways, use high beams whenever possible. 

Monitor and adjust driving speeds when traveling on unlit roads at night to allow enough time to detect, react and stop the vehicle in order to avoid striking a pedestrian, animal or object in the roadway.

If your car’s headlamp lenses are anything but crystal clear, have them restored or replaced to improve light output.

The author is director of public affairs for AAA in Wisconsin.

Nick Jarmusz