No street lights where I drive and the data actually shows the opposite regarding headlights and accident data for US versus Euro. I’ve only seen video of BMW’s laser lights that shape to put light where it’s needed. Amazing technology and only extends the range when the brights are on (where it’s really needed) and automatically turns off for oncoming traffic. Really no reason or risk to not updating the US codes, but lots of misinformation out there from the uninformed about lights + accidents and Euro vs US.
Here’s a good study by the AAA that will give those interested a few more facts to chew on.
LINK - https://www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/files/ResearchReportEuroSpecvsUSHeadlamps.pdf
Abstract
Vehicle headlamps are a primary safety system. Research data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports approximately 25 percent of automotive travel occurs at night. However, nearly 52 percent of all driver fatalities and 71 percent of all pedestrian deaths occur during dark driving times (NHTSA, 2018). This data leads to the conclusion that driving in dark or low-light conditions increases the likelihood of a collision at least partially due to a combination of limited forward illumination by current automotive lighting systems and the speeds at which drivers travel (NHTSA, 2018). The efficacy of headlamps compliant with U.S. regulations may be a contributing factor. Research conducted by AAA determined that modern headlamps on low beam provide adequate lighting for speeds of only 39 mph to 52 mph, depending on the type of headlamp (AAA, 2015).
While urban roadways with overhead lighting can mitigate this problem, a minority of U.S. roadways have installed overhead lighting (Technology, 2014). Additionally, U.S. drivers are reluctant to use high beam headlamps out of concern for creating glare for oncoming or preceding drivers (Mary Lynn Buonarosa, 2008), (AAA, 2015).
Increasing roadway lighting without creating glare for other motorists should increase the safety of nighttime driving. This is the promise of adaptive driving beam headlamp technologies. NHTSA describes adaptive driving beam as, “a type of adaptive front-lighting system that automatically enables upper beam headlamps and adapts their beam patterns to create a shaded area around oncoming and preceding vehicles to improve long-range visibility for the driver without causing discomfort, distraction, or glare to other road users.”
The performance specifications for U.S. headlamps are defined by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 that sets requirements for original and replacement lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Many of the specifications were developed for sealed beam headlamps and, even with updates to the regulations, have not kept pace with recent advances in lighting technology. Section 9.4 of the standard expressly prohibits simultaneous operation of high and low beam headlamps, thereby excluding adaptive driving beam headlamp systems from vehicles sold in the U.S.
This research project intends to evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of European specification vehicles equipped with adaptive driving beam technology. U.S. specification headlamp systems and adaptive driving beam technology available on European specification vehicles will be quantitatively and qualitatively compared.
© 2019 American Automobile Association, Inc.
3
COMPARISON OF EUROPEAN AND U.S. SPECIFICATION AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP PERFORMANCE
The vehicles selected for testing were sourced from two vehicle manufacturers who provided both U.S. and European specification vehicles of the same model. The U.S. specification vehicles are equipped with LED headlamps and auto-dimming technology, which allows driving with high beams by default above a set speed, and automatic switching to low beam operation when oncoming or preceding traffic is detected. The European specification vehicles are equipped with LED headlamps and adaptive driving beam technology
KEY FINDING
Driver perception of target Illumination during static testing was similar among all vehicles tested.
The U.S. specification vehicles produced 1.9% more low beam illumination on targets. This finding is in line with NHTSA support of U.S. low beam patterns over European specification (Federal Register, 2018).
The average target illumination values for high beam was 12.5% higher for European specification vehicles compared to U.S. specification. This is unsurprising considering the higher output allowed for high beam operation in European specification vehicles (430,000 cd vs. 150,000 cd for U.S. specification).
Here’s a good study by the AAA that will give those interested a few more facts to chew on.
LINK - https://www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/files/ResearchReportEuroSpecvsUSHeadlamps.pdf
Abstract
Vehicle headlamps are a primary safety system. Research data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports approximately 25 percent of automotive travel occurs at night. However, nearly 52 percent of all driver fatalities and 71 percent of all pedestrian deaths occur during dark driving times (NHTSA, 2018). This data leads to the conclusion that driving in dark or low-light conditions increases the likelihood of a collision at least partially due to a combination of limited forward illumination by current automotive lighting systems and the speeds at which drivers travel (NHTSA, 2018). The efficacy of headlamps compliant with U.S. regulations may be a contributing factor. Research conducted by AAA determined that modern headlamps on low beam provide adequate lighting for speeds of only 39 mph to 52 mph, depending on the type of headlamp (AAA, 2015).
While urban roadways with overhead lighting can mitigate this problem, a minority of U.S. roadways have installed overhead lighting (Technology, 2014). Additionally, U.S. drivers are reluctant to use high beam headlamps out of concern for creating glare for oncoming or preceding drivers (Mary Lynn Buonarosa, 2008), (AAA, 2015).
Increasing roadway lighting without creating glare for other motorists should increase the safety of nighttime driving. This is the promise of adaptive driving beam headlamp technologies. NHTSA describes adaptive driving beam as, “a type of adaptive front-lighting system that automatically enables upper beam headlamps and adapts their beam patterns to create a shaded area around oncoming and preceding vehicles to improve long-range visibility for the driver without causing discomfort, distraction, or glare to other road users.”
The performance specifications for U.S. headlamps are defined by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 that sets requirements for original and replacement lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Many of the specifications were developed for sealed beam headlamps and, even with updates to the regulations, have not kept pace with recent advances in lighting technology. Section 9.4 of the standard expressly prohibits simultaneous operation of high and low beam headlamps, thereby excluding adaptive driving beam headlamp systems from vehicles sold in the U.S.
This research project intends to evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of European specification vehicles equipped with adaptive driving beam technology. U.S. specification headlamp systems and adaptive driving beam technology available on European specification vehicles will be quantitatively and qualitatively compared.
© 2019 American Automobile Association, Inc.
3
COMPARISON OF EUROPEAN AND U.S. SPECIFICATION AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP PERFORMANCE
The vehicles selected for testing were sourced from two vehicle manufacturers who provided both U.S. and European specification vehicles of the same model. The U.S. specification vehicles are equipped with LED headlamps and auto-dimming technology, which allows driving with high beams by default above a set speed, and automatic switching to low beam operation when oncoming or preceding traffic is detected. The European specification vehicles are equipped with LED headlamps and adaptive driving beam technology
KEY FINDING
Driver perception of target Illumination during static testing was similar among all vehicles tested.
The U.S. specification vehicles produced 1.9% more low beam illumination on targets. This finding is in line with NHTSA support of U.S. low beam patterns over European specification (Federal Register, 2018).
The average target illumination values for high beam was 12.5% higher for European specification vehicles compared to U.S. specification. This is unsurprising considering the higher output allowed for high beam operation in European specification vehicles (430,000 cd vs. 150,000 cd for U.S. specification).
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