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The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

arstechnica.com

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Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#91

Post by lozenge »

bb88 wrote: post #28
prng2021 wrote: post #4

We allow companies like Tesla to jeopardize people's lives while the company beta tests "full self driving" technology, but are scared of allowing proven safe technology like adaptive headlights.

You're not wrong, the NHTSA should be more proactive on this stuff. But to be fair, drunk drivers kill 28 people a day in this country, or about 10k people per year. 3k people die at signalled intersections every year, or around 8ish per day. While Tesla shouldn't be beta testing their self driving cars on public roads, it's clear that human behavior and existing road design is still vastly worse.

What on earth does drunk driving have to do with Tesla's self driving software? You could argue for Waymo, which is actually capable of going without human assistance, not Tesla which is clearly not going to deliver on that.

Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#92

Post by autoexec »

albert180 wrote: post #17
vanilla_nut wrote: post #6

Does anybody know if these lights detect and "un-bright" for pedestrians and bicyclists? I know many cars automatically turn the brights off at low speeds where you're more likely to see peds and bikes... but as someone who frequently walks and cycles on or along 40+ MPH roads, I worry what will happen to me when these vehicles start to show up.

Yes, Matrix-LED carves out a little hole in the high beam for you so you won't get blinded but the rest is still bright. See this 8 year old video for explanation https://youtu.be/F4-iwuzAey4

How do your headlights know the thing on the side of the road is a pedestrian or bike and not a deer (or as someone else mentioned, a kangaroo)? Animals on the road should be clearly illuminated but pedestrians shouldn't be blinded.

Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#93

Post by cypress66 »

lozenge wrote: post #91
bb88 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not wrong, the NHTSA should be more proactive on this stuff. But to be fair, drunk drivers kill 28 people a day in this country, or about 10k people per year. 3k people die at signalled intersections every year, or around 8ish per day. While Tesla shouldn't be beta testing their self driving cars on public roads, it's clear that human behavior and existing road design is still vastly worse.

What on earth does drunk driving have to do with Tesla's self driving software? You could argue for Waymo, which is actually capable of going without human assistance, not Tesla which is clearly not going to deliver on that.

That in theory Tesla fsd will be level 4 or 5 in the future.

Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#94

Post by autoexec »

KerrAvon wrote: post #22
deburo wrote: post #7

Available in Europe since 2006? Why did it take so long for the US? LED lightbeams are so bright that high beams is almost unbearable for opposing cars.

US auto regulations are extremely conservative on the lights/signals front, have been for a long time. Some European car designs in the late 20th century were compromised when brought to the US because the headlights had to be made worse (in an aesthetic sense) even though there was no safety reason to do so — Citroen DS was one of these. And maybe they should be conservative, but I don’t see how anyone can argue tha…

I agree the NHTSA is way too slow, but damn am I glad they're doing the work! I love that they're checking everything carefully and doing the research before approving new designs.

Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#95

Post by vladvasiliu »

nraynaud wrote: post #88
Maursault wrote: post #35

I'd be happy if local and state police just started issuing citations in earnest for misaligned headlights on pickup trucks. 99% of the pickups I come across at night have their low beams pointing straight instead of down at the road. It's so common that it can't be a coincidence that nearly every pickup truck has an illegal headlight configuration. And it isn't due to higher ground clearance, that's just their lame…

when I was a kid in France I remember one some car parks at the beginning of the winter there were people tuning headlights with a machine. I don't know the specifics because I was too young (was it the police? a road safety non-profit?) It has disappeared a long time ago. edit: https://valdeuropeinfos.fr/faites-verifier-vos-phares-gratui... actually it still exists, and it's the police (a technical department dedica…

That may still exist, but I think no one bothers to do that around these parts. Basically, every other car has at least one headlamp pointing up. And I say this as a motorcycle rider, so my eyes are somewhat higher than in a regular car (I can see over the top of cars if they're not vans/SUVs).

Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#96

Post by Animats »

bb88 wrote: post #32
prng2021 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes drunk driving is a terrible problem but beta testing software on the open road is not the only option available. It's nothing but irresponsible. Here's one of many: use sensors and AI in the car to detect a drunk person behind the wheel. This is HN so I'm sure readers could spend 10 seconds and think of numerous ways this could be accomplished and many otherideas about what could be done when a drunk driver is de…

You may find it interesting the NHTSA is pushing for breathalizers in cars starting in 2026. Personally I'm more in favor of smart road like technologies where a highway has a mechanical or physical properties to assist self-driving vehicles stay in line with the road. Mostly because a 100% software solution will likely not work, particularly in the midwest and great lakes states during the wintertime. It need not be…

Magnetic nails embedded in the road

Volvo wanted to do that, in Sweden. They pointed out that it would also be useful for snowplow guidance. That's often done by putting up poles at the side of the road.

Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#97

Post by eesmith »

londons_explore wrote: post #85
rswail wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is not drunk drivers but incapacitated drivers, whether due to alcohol, drugs, lack of sleep, distractions (mobile phones), etc. The fix is not arbitrary alcohol blood levels, or extending the "War on Drugs", but with standardized, enforced, in-vehicle continuous testing that ensures that the driver is awake, responsive, and in control of the vehicle. That is something where R&D in AI/ML/software to analy…

I have a suspicion that most accidents involve the worst 10% of drivers. I'd like to see research into ways to identify those drivers and encourage them to improve their driving skill. For example, one way might be to make a register of driving skill public information, and then insurance companies can jack their prices up for those people unless they go on and pass (government funded) extra training courses. Such a…

Here's a starting point for you - "Estimating likelihood of future crashes for crash-prone drivers" at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209575641... .

> At-fault crash-prone drivers are usually considered as the high risk group for possible future incidents or crashes. In Louisiana, 34% of crashes are repeatedly committed by the at-fault crash-prone drivers who represent only 5% of the total licensed drivers in the state. ... From the findings, it is recommended that crash-prone drivers should be targeted for special safety programs regularly through education and regulations.

Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#99

Post by Animats »

saurik wrote: post #86

Part of me feels like we need to just make cars much much much more reflective (being careful to not have hard corners or flat surfaces that could create glare during the day). First of all, that would make them much more easily visible at night (which would be great, and is something everyone should want)... but it would also mean that if you are an asshole and use your high beams or otherwise shine a light at a car…

I would personally award bonus points if this is implemented with some kind of inverse adaptive "matrix" mirror mechanism whereby reflective-ness is automatically concentrated at light sources that are directing light at you.

That's how reflective signs, vests, and auto reflectors work.[1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroreflector

Re: The US will finally allow adaptive beam headlights on new cars

#100

Post by HPsquared »

saurik wrote: post #86

Part of me feels like we need to just make cars much much much more reflective (being careful to not have hard corners or flat surfaces that could create glare during the day). First of all, that would make them much more easily visible at night (which would be great, and is something everyone should want)... but it would also mean that if you are an asshole and use your high beams or otherwise shine a light at a car…

Deliberately dazzling drivers at night may have liability issues.
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