Ford is working on advanced lighting technologies to make night driving safer. These are advancements that make use of a regular camera and an infrared camera to detect cyclists, animals such as dogs and deer, and pedestrians on or near the roadway, and to determine whether the car is getting close to an intersection or a roundabout.
To be sure, driving at night on roads that are unfamiliar and unlit can be an unsettling experience. Road safety reports show that on unlit roads there is a significantly increased likelihood of accidents, and that such accidents could involve personal injuries, or fatalities, said Ford.
"Many people who drive at night have had to quickly react to someone or something suddenly appearing in the road – as if from nowhere," said Ken Washington, vice president, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.
Ford is working on two new advancements, (1) Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System and (2) Spot Lighting.
First, Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting: Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System was developed at Ford's European Research and Innovation Centre in Aachen, Germany The system can widen the beam at junctions and roundabouts. At roundabouts, for example, the system helps the driver to see the exits and check if cyclists and pedestrians are crossing the road, said Michael Koherr, research engineer, Lighting Systems, Ford of Europe. Also, the system interprets traffic signs to better illuminate hazards that are not in the direction of travel.