How Do Headlights Change in Curves?
2 Answers
On straight roads, the headlight distance remains unchanged. When encountering general curves, the headlights follow the turn, shifting from the center to the side of the road. Extended information about automotive lights is as follows: 1. Headlights: The primary purpose of headlights is to illuminate the road and objects ahead, ensuring driving safety. They can also use alternating high and low beams as a signal for overtaking at night. Headlights are installed on both sides of the front of the car, with 2 or 4 units per vehicle. The bulb power is 45~60W for high beams and 25~55W for low beams. 2. Fog lights: Fog lights are installed near the headlights or slightly lower. They are used in low visibility conditions such as fog, snow, heavy rain, or dust, serving as road illumination and providing signals to oncoming vehicles. The light is mostly yellow because yellow light has a longer wavelength and better fog penetration. The bulb power is generally 35W.
That night while making a turn, I suddenly noticed clearer visibility and realized the headlights were slightly angled to the left—that’s when I discovered this feature. It works by sensing the steering wheel and automatically adjusting the headlight direction: tilting left during left turns and right during right turns to illuminate the corners. This way, hidden branches or small animals become visible, making driving much safer. Having driven several models, I’ve noticed newer cars come equipped with this system, called AFS or something similar, which operates automatically without manual switching. I recommend testing it at night, especially on winding mountain roads, as it significantly reduces accident risks. Maintenance is simple too—just avoid spraying water on the sensor area during car washes.
