Headlights: The Overlooked Safety Feature
Headlights that are poorly designed, too dim, overly bright, or poorly aimed are a significant safety concern. Because of new standards set by the Insurance Institute for Highways Safety (IIHS), automobile manufacturers have focused on improving the headlight designs for a number of vehicles over the past few years. Testing done by the agency for 2021 model vehicles has shown headlight safety improvement on 17 vehicles, including models from automakers Nissan, Volvo, Subaru, Hyundai, and Honda.
The changes were spurred by IIHS raising concerns about inadequate headlights over the past few years. The agency was able to put pressure on auto manufacturers to make headlight improvements by withholding its highest safety ratings from models that did not reach their standards. Starting with the model year 2020, the IIHS was no longer awarding its Top Safety Pick+ designation to vehicle models that did not achieve Good or Acceptable ratings for the headlights on every version of the vehicle model.
The president of IIHS remarked how encouraging it was how quickly the vehicle manufacturers had moved forward to make the improvements.
Watch the YouTube video. IIHS uploaded a clip explaining how they have successfully raised the standards for headlights.
Many Fatal Auto Crashes Happen at Night
The IIHS made the decision to withhold their top ratings on the basis of data that showed approximately half of all fatalities on our country’s roads occur at night. Additionally, more than a fourth happen in unlit areas. This information made it clear to those at that agency that headlight safety was a crucial piece of the overall picture that had not been considered.
Testers at IIHS found that as many auto manufacturers had previously designed them, headlights were not aimed at the area of the road that would be most illuminating for the driver. Often, the beam would be directed at oncoming drivers. Headlights before the changes either did not light the roadway adequately or created unsafe glare. The IIHS felt that in some instances, auto designers had made compromises with regard to headlight performance in order to achieve a particular streamlined look.
The IIHS has only been assessing headlight performance since 2016. That year, only two out of 95 tested models earned a “good” rating. The ratings are improving, but there is still room to do better.
In 2021 model year testing, 10 vehicles that had earned Top Safety Pick honors in prior years were moved up to Top Safety Pick+ because they had eliminated or changed marginal or poor headlight designs. One model, the Honda Odyssey, went from no award to the highest level on the basis of a number of improvements, which included the elimination of two headlight options that had performed poorly.
IIHS testing is still in the testing process for 2021 model vehicles. Auto manufacturers can submit their vehicles throughout the year for assessment. To date, the following vehicles have improved their headlights from their 2020 ratings:
Headlight Safety: 2021 Acceptable Ratings
- Audi A7
- Honda Accord & Odyssey
- Nissan Altima
- Volvo XC60 & XC90
Headlight Safety: 2021 Good Ratings
- Acura RDX
- BMW 5-series
- Hyundai Palisade
- Mazda CX-30
- Subaru Ascent, Forester, Legacy & Outback
- Toyota Highlander
- Volvo XC40
Citrus Heights Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thank you for reading. I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Citrus Heights, California. Most car accidents occur due to negligence or carelessness. Crashes can cause significant injuries and cause the victim to incur medical expenses and lost income. It makes sense to consult an experienced injury lawyer if you or a loved one has suffered at the hands of a negligent driver. If you would like to set up a no-obligation consultation or would just like some free and friendly advice, please do not hesitate to call our office at (916) 921-6400. We also have a toll-free number for those that are outside of the local area code: (800) 404-5400. Another way to contact us is through our online form.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-blur-blurry-background-bokeh-1168159/
mm llo [cs 667]