New headlamps get green light

New smart headlamps that look set to greatly improve safe driving for motorists look set to be cleared by the EU for use in Ireland shortly.

The new lights reduce the glare from oncoming vehicles, bend around corners and automatically adapt to road and weather conditions.
The Adaptive-Front-lighting Systems had been banned in Europe and several other countries including the US until regulations were finalised to ensure their safety.

However the European Commission says it will adopt standards agreed at UN level and the new headlamps could be seen on Irish roads within the next 18 months.

The headlamps adapt their beam patterns depending on the type of road.
They adjust vertically for oncoming traffic and horizontally around curves in the road.