The article mentions various advances in headlight technology that will now be legal. But one item not mentioned that I would really appreciate: Headlights that turn when the car is turning. Example: I'm beginning to make a sharp right turn onto a completely dark side street. I'm looking to my right to determine whether there are any pedestrians, bicycles, or obstacles on the side street. But my headlights are still illuminating the main road, not the side street. I'd like the right headlight to turn rightward so that I can see the side street, with the left headlight continuing to illuminate the main road.
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Listen up, America. Adaptive driving beams are finally going to become legal, thanks to a provision in the infrastructure bill. This is great news for nighttime driving safety — your author is particularly excited that this technology will finally be legal in cars sold in the U.S.
In case you need a refresher, adaptive driving beams are fully explained in this story here. But in short, they're the trick headlights we see in many European cars that can adapt their high beam illumination based on the surrounding environment. The system uses cameras and sensors to pick out other cars on the road, and is able to trace a perfect darkened opening for the other cars, while still throwing out high beam-like light everywhere else. It'll also darken the illumination of road signs as you approach them so as not to dazzle the driver with a bright reflection. There's potential for much more, too, as some manufacturers have designed headlights that can project warning signs onto pavement, swivel up to highlight pedestrians entering the road and more.
We've been missing out, but that's about to change.
Adaptive driving beams are finally going to be legal in the U.S.