Today’s cars have all kinds of useful driver aids that can help prevent accidents. However, there’s one feature that doesn’t get enough credit for its role in accident prevention: your car’s headlights. They’re not all cut from the same cloth, and some cars have more effective headlights than others. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), roughly 50% of traffic fatalities occur at night, dawn, or dusk. Visibility is critical when driving after dark, and capable headlights can help reduce nighttime crashes. The differences in headlight visibility from one model to the next may shock you. Variances in bulb type and technology can significantly impact performance. Even something as simple as how the lights are aimed can dramatically affect visibility.  Separating testing provides insight that helps you separate the best from the rest when it comes to headlight performance. In testing, IIHS engineers measure the reach of a vehicle’s lights as it travels straight and on curves. They closely examine how low and high beams perform in different approaches, testing the lights as they’re received from the dealer, with no adjustments. When testing is complete, the lights receive a score of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. The IIHS reports that 44% of headlight systems in model year 2024 vehicles earned a Good rating. Roughly 23% of the systems evaluated are rated Marginal or Poor. So, which factors cause headlights to receive a less than optimal rating? It could be caused by disappointing visibility, too much glare from low beams to oncoming drivers, or both...Read more