New Study Supports Stricter Headlight Standards
We have reported in the past on the efforts being made by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) that have resulted in better headlights being installed in new model cars. Now, a recent IIHS study provides confirmation that this effort has resulted in a reduction in the number of nighttime crashes.
The results of the recent study show that the rates of nighttime crashes per mile driven are almost 20 percent lower for vehicles that are equipped with headlights that achieved a good rating in IIHS testing, compared to vehicles with headlights rated poor. Rates were also better when comparing poor headlight ratings to vehicles with marginal (10 percent better) or acceptable (15 percent better) headlights.
This is the first study to look at whether headlights that provide improved illumination can help affect crash rates. Driving in the darkness is three times as risky as traveling during daylight.
IIHS Headlight Ratings
The IIHS began its headlight rating program in 2016. Until then, researchers and motorists had no way to compare how well different headlights illuminated the roadway. The outdated federal standard considers all headlights equal, even though the lighting ability of different headlights varies greatly. Since 2016, the IIHS has tested and rated approximately 1,000 different headlight systems, and that paved the way for the recent study that examined how headlight ratings affected crash rates.
Different Types of Crashes are Affected Differently
The study found that risks were reduced more for certain types of crashes. For instance, headlights rated good brought down the rate of crashes in which the driver suffered injuries by 29 percent when compared to poor headlights. Rates of pedestrian crashes and those that resulted in a vehicle having to be towed were both reduced by about a quarter.
Federal Standards Need Updating
The results of the headlight study reveal that the federal regulations with regard to headlights need to be more stringent. The federal standards have not significantly changed since 1968, and only specify maximum and minimum levels for brightness at various angles. The federal standards look at the headlight without examining how well the beam is aimed after it is installed. They also don’t look at how new technologies change the orientation of the light beams when the vehicle is in motion.
IIHS Testing is More Stringent
By developing more exacting standards for headlights in order for manufacturers to achieve a good rating, the agency created an incentive that resulted in better headlights being installed as standard equipment on more vehicles. Since the introduction of the program, the percentage of headlights that earn a good rating has increased from four to twenty-nine percent. Manufacturers have even made mid-production changes in order to comply with the IIHS standards. It is clear that the agency’s safety ratings have been a great motivator for auto manufacturers to improve their headlight systems, and now with the results of this recent study, it shows that the improvements translate into real-world, lifesaving benefits.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below, posted by the IIHS, dates back to when the agency first began its headlight testing program.
Fairfield Personal Injury Attorneys
Hello, and thank you for visiting our legal blog. I’m Ed Smith, a Fairfield personal injury lawyer. Despite all the many advances in vehicle safety technologies being made, we are a long way from accident-free roads. Northern California, in particular, sees a lot of collisions every day on our busy streets and highways. If you have been injured in a car crash that was caused by another motorist’s negligence, call our experienced injury attorneys for assistance. We have been advocates for injured residents of Fairfield and surrounding cities for decades. If you would like to receive our free and friendly legal advice, call us at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.
Photo: by Jake Weirick via Unsplash
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