Finally, Our Headlights Will Suck Way Less

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Finally, Our Headlights Will Suck Way Less

The just-passed infrastructure bill will allow for adaptive beams, which have been legal in Europe but not the U.S.

By Adam Ismail
Yesterday 2:50PM

U.S. vehicle lighting standards suck. That’s not my opinion; that’s the opinion of our own Jason Torchinsky, who’s been beating this drum since long before I was born and will continue to long after I’m gone. Because he will outlive me, as soon as he finds a way to immortalize himself as an amber rear turn indicator. I assume he’s close — it’s been his life’s work.

Anyway! I have good news for you Jason, and anyone else who cares about the sorry state of exterior lighting on cars sold in these 50 states: it’s about to get better. No, really. Because Section 24212 of H.R. 3684 — known to you and I as The Infrastructure Bill — passed on Monday, makes provisions for “adaptive driving beam headlamps.” Caught by The Drive, and visible in the plain text version of the document, it reads as follows:

SEC. 24212. HEADLAMPS.

(a) Definitions. — In this section:
(1) Adaptive driving beam headlamp. — The term “adaptive driving beam headlamp’’ means a headlamp (as defined in Standard 108) that meets the performance requirements specified in SAE International Standard J3069, published on June 30, 2016.
(2) Standard 108. — The term “Standard 108'’ means Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108, contained in section 571.108 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).


(b) Rulemaking. — Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a final rule amending Standard 108 —
(1) to include performance-based standards for vehicle headlamp systems —
(A) to ensure that headlights are correctly aimed on the road; and
(B) requiring those systems to be tested on-vehicle to account for headlight height and lighting performance; and
(2) to allow for the use on vehicles of adaptive driving beam headlamp systems.

It’s that very last line — “allow for the use on vehicles of adaptive driving beam headlamp systems” — that’s particularly relevant. If you don’t know how this feature works, it essentially relies on cameras and sensors to shape the projected area of high beams so it doesn’t collide with oncoming traffic or highly reflective road signs. Cars in Europe, as well as those puttering about our neighbors to the north, have had this capability for years. Even as organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and AAA have released data illuminating (heh) how useless the Edison Bulbs affixed to our modern vehicles are.

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