Headlights that can 'actively' illuminate pedestrians and 'glare-free' brights will soon be a reality thanks to BMW.
GLARE-FREE BRIGHTS:
The latter, called the Glare-free high beam assistant, can locate oncoming vehicles and vehicles ahead and prevent glare without the brights needing to be switched off.
The system uses a special camera sensor to determine the exact position of the vehicle approaching or in front and then uses 'mobile glare masks' in the headlights to ensure that occupants in those vehicles are not dazzled by your high beams. The system even recognises bicycles if their lights are adequate. No word on protecting the eyes of pedestrians, but BMW has announced another system that helps save their skins.
PEDESTRIAN ALERTS:
According to BMW, normal low beam lights allow people to see 50 to 85 metres ahead at night, but tests show that a darkly clad pedestrian will only be seen from 29 metres away.
Enter the Dynamic Light Spot. This system is able to detect a pedestrian or animal at night (through the existing Night Vision's heat sensing system) and then automatically direct a beam onto that person at an early stage to alert the driver of a potential hazard.
To make things even easier for the driver, a beam of light projected onto the road in front of the vehicle was designed to lead the driver's eye to the possible collision object, which the system can recognise about 97 metres ahead. The theory here is that the driver will be able to brake earlier if such a hazard is recognised earlier.
While this gadget could save more than just a few lives in South Africa, sadly even the most advanced technology can do little in the face of the Kamikaze pedestrian syndrome that’s all too common over here.