Effectiveness of lights in crossover private passenger cars

13.7.2016

Question for written answer E-005775-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Eleftherios Synadinos (NI)

According to a publication[1], the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted research into the effectiveness of the lights in 21 popular crossovers, which are also available in the European market. Of these, 12 were graded ‘poor’ and five ‘marginally acceptable’. Only four cars were graded ‘acceptable’.

‘Manufacturers pay no attention to the actual road performance of this basic piece of equipment’, said IIHS researcher Matthew Brumbelow. According to the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the main fault concerns the beam of the front lights of crossovers, which is aimed high. The tests also showed that 17 out of 21 models cause excessive ‘blindness’ to passenger cars moving in the opposite direction.

The IIHS started the testing programme for the front lights in 2015, in order to push the car industry to improve its technology, since half the deaths from road accidents are due to insufficient or total lack of natural lighting.

The goal of the European road safety action programmes, as well as of the White Paper of 28 March 2011, is to improve road safety and reduce fatal accidents on the roads by half by 2020.

The Commission is asked whether it intends to update the directive on the technical harmonisation of vehicles, in accordance with this study by the IIHS.

• [1] http://www.drive.gr/news/asfaleia/iihs-provlimatika-ta-fota-sta-kompakt-kai-mesaia-crossover-video