Car headlights have not evolved much over the years. Nowadays however, the wind of change seems to be blowing stronger and new systems are being developed to make headlights smarter and safer.

From 1908 to the early 90's, the good old incandescent bulb was the only option for car headlights. In 1991, BMW introduced to North America the high-intensity discharge (HID) headlight in its largest sedan, the 7-Series. This type of headlight is also named xenon headlight, as a reference to the gas used in these type of bulbs. A HID bulb is so bright that it can replace two incandescent bulbs. 

Evidently, bright headlamps help reduce the risk of accidents on the road, but it cannot do it alone. Although it is not a new technology, the adaptive front lighting system (AFL) has been much improved over the past few years and increases safety. AFL aims at reducing blind spots in a tight curve where headlights pointing straight ahead of the car cannot reach. 

Electronic sensors calculate the vehicle's speed, its vertical axis, its trajectory, as well as the steering angle. When required, the sensors activate electrical systems that move the beam horizontally to light up the actual path of the car, rather than right in front of it. 

On Audi models, AFL headlights can pivot 15 degrees to the left or to the right. Other manufacturers use different methods. For example, BMW uses fog lamps to light the lateral path at an angle that can reach 80 degrees.

Already popular in Europe, vertical AFL headlights are slowly making their way to North America. The technology is intended to activate high beams automatically. Some BMW and Renault models already include this technology, while Mercedes-Benz plans on adding it in the Fall, on select 2009 models.

Mercedes engineers are using the latest electronic technologies. A camera integrated in the windshield is dedicated solely to monitoring traffic. Every 40 milliseconds, an electronic system interprets the information and sends a signal to the headlights, to determine the intensity in order to ensure high visibility without blinding drivers in the opposite lane.

Designed for highway driving, the system only activates at high speeds and only works if the driver turns the headlights on above 55km/h. Given the intensity of xenon headlights, the technology should be much appreciated by other drivers.