EU sluit zich aan bij VN-protocol voor AFS-autolampen (Adaptive Front-lighting Systems) (en)

New, "clever" car headlamps can adapt their beam patterns according to changing road and traffic conditions. These so-called Adaptive Front-lighting Systems (AFS) improve illumination while reducing the risk of glare. Thus, the use of such AFS headlight would bring about improvements to driver comfort and safety. While such headlights were forbidden up to now in the EU, the Commission is now proposing to allow manufacturers to install AFS in cars by acceding to United Nations legislation. Subject to assent from the European Parliament and the Council, the Commission intends to adopt a new United Nations Regulation which allows for approval of AFS systems for use in EU Member States and many other contracting parties such as Japan and Russia.

Commenting on the proposal, Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen i responsible for enterprise and industry policy 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."

Adaptive Front-lighting Systems (AFS) are `smart' headlamp systems which can adapt themselves to particular road or traffic environments. They can help achieve optimum lighting for the driver in a variety of conditions. For example, using advanced sensing systems, the beam pattern of the headlamp will change automatically depending on whether the vehicle is being used on town roads, country roads or on motorways. Also within the AFS category are `bend lighting' systems which help illuminate the road ahead on bending country roads. Systems which adapt themselves to adverse weather conditions are also possible.

The only way that manufacturers are currently allowed to use these 'clever' lights is by going through a complex procedure which is designed to allow new technologies not covered by existing regulations. When the EU adopts the new UNECE Regulation, manufacturers can equip new cars with advanced headlamps as easily as they can for conventional headlamps. The new regulations being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will be integrated into the European Community Type Approval system, therefore special exemptions will no longer be required and the approval process will become more straightforward for vehicle and headlamp manufacturers.
The current proposal is available at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/automotive/pagesbackground/entr_1520_2005_en.pdf

It will allow the Commission representative to vote in favour of adoption of the new regulation in a forthcoming meeting of the UNECE. The proposal is subject to the assent of the European Parliament and the Council.