MIAMI VALLEY — Headlights found on most vehicles in the U.S. may not be bright enough to safely light roadways, AAA said in a release.
Research conducted by AAA showed halogen headlights failed to safely light unlit roadways at speeds above 40 mph, as a result, federal lawmakers have now updated U.S. headlight standards for the first time in decades.
>> AAA: Tips to help protect your car from theft
The infrastructure bill recently signed into law includes language requiring the federal government to update safety standards for headlamps and allows for the adaptive driving beam headlamps within two years, according to AAA.
A study of the adaptive driving beam headlights, which are found on most European vehicles, found they increased roadway lighting by as much as 86 percent when compared to the U.S. low beam headlights.
>> 1 dead after pedestrian crash in Vandalia
“Driving at night carries the highest fatality rate for both drivers and pedestrians,” said Kara Hitchens, AAA spokesperson in a release.
AAA said that 75 percent of pedestrian fatalities happen at night.
Miami Valley fatal pedestrian crashes in 2021 according to data from Ohio State Highway Patrol:
- Franklin: 31
- Cuyahoga: 18
- Hamilton: 15
- Montgomery: 11
- Lucas: 10