Ombudsman
More than two years ago, on June 23, 2017, OMBUDSMAN ALERT published PART I of this article on auto headlights, establishing the claim of safety experts that โpoor illumination is responsible for the increasing number of highway deaths especially among pedestrians.โ That article further stated that โIn Europe as well as Japan, automakers introduced head lamps that automatically adjust to incoming traffic to reduce glare.โ
In order to bring us up-to-date on this issue, this Ombudsman will now quote from the Detroit Free Press article: โBetter headlights coming?โ:
โMillions of Americans are driving around in the dark. Thatโs not a metaphor, itโs the state of U.S. headlight technology and maintenance compared to places like Canada, Europe and Japan. only about half of the 2018 model year vehicles in the U.S. offered โadequateโ headlights, and frequently only on expensive, option-laden models. That put good visibility out of sight for many American drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an industry group that tests and advocates for safety features.On top of that, experts say improper installation reduces the effectiveness of many advanced headlights, turning what should be safety aids into glaring annoyances for other. drivers.โ
The article goes on to complain that โHelp is on the way,but thereโs no telling when it will arrive.โ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which this Ombudsman has often quoted in past articles, is in the process of developing rules for a new technology called โadaptive driving beamโ, or โ.ADB lightsโ. It is unfortunate that automakers and suppliers are waiting impatiently to offer the superior systems they already sell in much of the world!
Todd Morgan, senior vice president for global product development at lighting supplier Marroc stated that โlighting technology has never accelerated like it is today.โ
This Ombudsman notes that ADB lights combine three features that are innovative, and have been proven in the driving of millions of miles in heavily regulated, safety conscious markets.
OMBUDSMAN ALERT concludes this article with the hope that these innovative ADB LIGHTS will be available to the auto consumer as standard equipment in all new models coming out by the year 2020!
PLEASE ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO: editor@rocklandcountytimes.com
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