IIHS Reveals Car Headlights May Not Be Effective Enough
Posted By Darrigo & Diaz
An alarming report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) revealed that a great number of cars have headlights that do not perform as they should.
The IIHS is well known for their crash testing, which checks if car safety features work properly to ensure occupants are protected in the event of a collision. In their latest test, 82 different sets of headlights were tested for performance on 31 new, midsize cars of varying models. Out of the entire group, the Toyota Prius v was the only car to achieve a “good” rating, but only while equipped with optional LED lights and high beam assist. With standard halogen lights, the Prius earned a sub-par rating.
Among the 44 headlight systems earning a poor rating, the halogen lights on the BMW 3 series were determined to be the worst. A driver with those headlights would have to be going 35 mph or slower to stop in time for an obstacle in the travel lane. Only when these cars had LED lights were the results better during the testing.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 50 percent of all accidents occur at dusk or in the dark. Therefore, the IIHS performed headlight performance testing on a track after dark.
Researchers fear the poor-performing headlights could be a danger to drivers at high speeds. A motorist going 60 miles per hour on the highway may not have enough time to stop to avoid a hazard.
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If you believe your car accident was caused by ineffective headlights of another vehicle defect, please call Darrigo & Diaz, Attorneys at Law for a free consultation. We have decades of experience handling car accident, product liability, and all other types of personal injury cases. Initial case evaluations are free, so be sure to schedule yours today.
Contact our office today to talk with our car accident lawyers at (813) 774-3341. We would be honored to represent you.