AN increasing number of fleet cars will benefit from safer ‘intelligent’ lighting as the process for their type approval is simplified.

The European Commission has acted to make the approval of adaptive front-lighting systems (AFS) that boost illumination for drivers easier, while cutting the risk of glare for fellow motorists.

It is proposing that manufacturers should bypass complicated existing European Union (EU) approval procedures for new technologies, by writing a draft United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) technical regulation for this kit into EU type-approval rules.

This will allow vehicle and headlamp manufacturers to fit AFS, following ‘straightforward’ applications to regulators. The lamps can adapt themselves to particular road or traffic environments, using advanced sensing systems to change beam patterns automatically, depending on whether the vehicle is being used on town roads, country roads or on motorways. Also AFS systems offer ‘bend lighting’ systems, which help illuminate bending country roads, and adapt themselves to adverse weather conditions.

Announcing the proposal, EU industry and enterprise Commissioner Günter Verheugen said: ‘Advances in headlamp technology can offer drivers benefits in terms of comfort and safety. We want to do all we can to encourage their wider use.’