Those IIHS headlamp tests are still much on the mind throughout the vehicle lighting world. A few weeks ago DVN published an editorial and in-depth report on the subject that got a lot of people talking, and many of them disagreed with what we published. We think that’s just fine; these are tough new questions we’re facing, and vigourous discussion and robust debate will help us respond to them in an appropriate, well-thought-out way. We know—the regulators have come right out and told us—things go better and faster when we speak with a united, informed, level-headed voice. The main thing at hand: we need to figure out how best to devise and promulgate headlamp ratings clearly and directly related to their safety performance. That will take cooperative effort from universities, institutes, and all kinds of other experts in our field. To that end, we’re working to set up panel discussions, round table talks, and special sessions on matters related not only to the IIHS tests but to headlamp performance and evaluation more generally.
So now we’ve got past being shocked and upset, we can buckle down to the work at hand. This week’s in-depth takes a fresh look at the matter. Give it a read, and by all means please keep sending us your feedback—even when what we publish isn’t shocking to you. You, the DVN membership, comprise an enormous amount of expertise, knowledge, know-how, and wisdom, now let’s put our heads together and leverage the opportunity provided by the likes of the IIHS ratings.
Sincerely yours,
Daniel Stern, DVN General editor