Even though night driving is a necessary part of owning a car, it can also have a negative impact on safety. Poor visibility is blamed for an estimated 2.8 Million accidents, 23,000 fatal crashes, and 2,300 pedestrian deaths each year in the United States.
New technology is available to many cars, which allows for better peripheral vision and better visibility. Xenon (also known as High Intensity Dicharge (HID), headlamps were introduced in Europe and Japan in the middle of 1990s. Originally restricted to luxury cars, Xenon technology has been made available on thousands more vehicles in North America – and not just on high-performance cars.
“Night driving, especially during inclement conditions, can be incredibly dangerous. The statistics prove this,”Dr. Phil Hessburg is the president of the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology. “But with Xenon headlight technology, many traffic accidents and pedestrian impacts could potentially be prevented. It’s not uncommon to see vehicles such as minivans, midsize sedans and compact vehicles on the road today equipped with Xenon headlights. It’s a promising development for driver safety.”
Xenon headlights produce a high-voltage electric arc. This is in contrast to traditional halogen lights that create visible light by heating a filament to a very hot temperature. “Xenon Arc,”To create light, the gas mixture is enclosed in a special container. This produces a bluish-white glow which is up to 70% brighter than standard halogen headlights and doesn’t glare at oncoming traffic.
Positive feedback already exists about the use of Xenon headlights on luxury cars as well as other vehicles. Consumers who have used Xenon headlights in their vehicles cite a noticeable improvement in the visibility of the road as the main benefit.
Many drivers will soon be able to have powerful, energy-efficient Xenon headlights in the vehicle they drive.
For more information, please visit www.mvlc.info.
