Use New Headlight Technologies Which Could Save More Lives Each Year

Every year, approximately five thousands pedestrians and bicyclists are killed along United States roads - 2,300 of them occurring at night - and another 70,000 pedestrians are injured in traffic crashes, in accordance with a 2003 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

New automotive lighting technologies, including xenon bulbs and Adaptive Front Lighting Systems that employ led headlights, can help better night pedestrian safety, according to the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council.

In accordance with researcher Michael Flannagan of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, drivers "overdrive" the headlights on lots of today's autos, meaning they are going very fast to stop securely within the distance made visible by the headlights.

"The critical security need in low-beam lighting is seeing distance," Flannagan said. "The maximum safe speed with now days average low beams is only around 45 mph. Our analyses indicate there is a major security problem that headlights could address."

One possible solution is Xenon headlights, sometimes referred to as blue headlights, these lights are based on a gas discharge method, Xenon uses an arc rather than a filament as a light source. The result is enhanced roadway vision by increasing the light output to the sides of the road.

A 2004 University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute experiment revealed that Xenon headlamps provided twice as much light for seeing important objects on the road while producing 25% less glare. The wider beam coverage also offers better lighting on road shoulders, where pedestrians and bicyclists are commonly found.

Near 120 vehicle models equipped with Xenon headlights were sold in North America in the 2005 model year -; up 21% from 2004.

Another rising headlight technology is AFS or Adaptive Front Lighting System. It offers optimal illumination in many driving conditions by automatically modifying the beam pattern of the headlights in response to a variety of speed, weather conditions and road conditions. The headlamps automatically move as the steering wheel is turned. This helps light up the road at an earlier stage, permitting the driver more time to adjust and steer or brake as needed.

Use New Headlight Technologies Which Could Save More Lives Each Year
Each year, approximately 5,000 pedestrians and bicyclists are killed along U.S. roads - 2,300 of them occurring at night - and another 70,000 pedestrians are injured in traffic crashes, according to a 2003 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

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