Imagine you’re driving on a curvy road, late at night, and as you go around a bend you discover there’s a deer in the middle of the road. With traditional headlights there is almost no time to react. By the time the car turns enough so the lights make the deer visible, it may be too late to do anything but brace for a collision. Repeat the scenario with a bicyclist or a broken-down vehicle, and the results are even more traumatic.
Adaptive Headlights?
Adaptive headlights, becoming more readily available on newer cars, may make this scenario less likely. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, vehicles equipped with this safety feature reduce their automobile insurance claims by 10%. In a study comparing them to fixed headlights, drivers with adaptive headlights were able to spot obstacles in the road about a third of a second faster than those with traditional lights. While the difference is small, it provides enough time for drivers to avoid an accident in many situations.
How do adaptive headlights work?
So how do adaptive headlights work? Sensors take into consideration the speed of the car, how far the driver is turning the steering wheel, and the rotation of the car, sometimes referred to as the yaw. These three factors send information to the headlights, and when a driver is going around a curve, the headlights will shift slightly, allowing the driver to see what’s around the corner earlier than they would be able to with fixed headlights. The result is more time to react to a surprising situation.
Because adaptive headlights are resulting in fewer insurance claims, some companies offer discounts for this feature, so contact your agent if your vehicle is equipped with these smart lights. Thinking about buying a new car? Adaptive headlights are just one of the newer safety features that you should look for in a vehicle. Contact us and we can give you more information on what other options may reduce your premium, as well as a list of the safest models on the road today.
Robert Macoviak is the President of Oyer, Macoviak and Associates. Oyer, Macoviak and Associates is the oldest independent insurance agency in Boynton Beach and has been in business since 1953. Oyer, Macoviak and Associates are vested members of the community who are committed to doing business face-to-face and being your insurance advocate in times of need.
