Page 17 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – November/December 2022

With all the high-tech features being added to cars, it’s easy to overlook the headlights. Headlights and tires might seem generic, but they play very important safety roles. Tires and headlights are definitely not all created equal. Many motorists have a love-hate relationship with headlights. We appreciate being able to see clearly, but hate the painful glare caused by other vehicles’ lighting.
Let’s start with a bit of history.
Cars of the 1960s and 1970s
generally had sealed beam
headlights. Similar to the traditional
Edison light bulb from your home,
they were a one-size-fits-all glass
ball with a glowing filament. Move
forward to the 1980s and 1990s
and most vehicles used halogen
headlights. Still a filament-style
light, but the addition of halogen
gas allowed the light to be brighter and hotter. These small halogen bulbs fit into a lens. The automakers then had more flexibility to shape the lens, improving the light pattern. As a bonus, vehicle style also could be more flexible. Halogen headlights are still the standard on many new cars today. Over the last 25 years, some high-end cars also have used xenon or high-intensity discharge. While brighter and whiter, these lights were more expensive and produced additional dangerous glare.
Shutterstock: Denis Puzyrkov
Much like newer lighting in your home, auto manufactures are now using more LEDs (light-emitting diodes). This type of lighting is durable and efficient. By combining multiple LEDs automakers will have much greater control of the shape and brightness of headlights. Earlier this year, the Federal Government gave the go- ahead for adaptive beam headlights. Vehicles with this
feature will no longer need a high beam switch. By using the cameras and sensors many modern vehicles have, these headlights can constantly adapt to the roadway ahead. Since both headlights can adapt separately, this is a big improvement over automatic high beams. It may
take several years before the majority
of vehicles have this feature. Additional advancements surely will follow. The good news is we are finally moving toward improved visibility for the driver without
blinding other roadway users. For all the classic car fans, Preston Tucker’s dream of adaptive headlights in the late 1940s may finally be possible.
While it’s always fun to dream of a brighter future, let’s not forget the basics. Our winters are dark, cold and snowy. Keep your headlights, taillights and backup camera clean. It’s a constant struggle to keep up, but your efforts could save a life. Pedestrian fatalities are a record high levels. We can all make a difference.
Michael Sweeney is a Traffic Safety Educator at AAA Hudson Valley.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 I 17
SAFETY ZONE
New Headlight Technology
Will Boost Safety