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Newly Registered Vehicles With High Intensity
Discharge Headlamps To Have Auto-Levelling Feature- With effect from 1 January
2010, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will require all newly
registered vehicles fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID)
headlamps to be equipped with an auto-levelling feature, which is a
mechanism that automatically adjusts the headlamp angle and
direction based on road and driving conditions.
- HID headlamps are allowed to
be fitted on vehicles registered here as they not only meet the
relevant safety standards but are also more energy efficient and
can improve the visibility of drivers as compared with standard
halogen lamps. Unlike standard halogen headlamp systems, HID
headlamps do not use a filament. Instead, they contain an inert gas
(Xenon), which emits light when it comes in contact with
high-voltage electrical arc. HID lamps also produce up to twice as
much light as halogen lamps, with a bluish-white cast and minimal
fading at the periphery of the beams.
- With the increasing trend on
the use of HID headlamps, there has been more feedback from
motorists that such headlamps are brighter and tend to cause glare.
In view of this and with the advancement in technology to reduce
the glare caused by such headlamps, all new vehicles fitted with
HID headlamps registered from 1 January 2010 will have to be
equipped with an auto-levelling feature.
- The auto-levelling feature
helps to reduce glare to drivers of oncoming vehicles without
compromising the improved visibility these headlamps offer to
drivers. For example, if the vehicle is carrying a heavier load and
the rear is lower, the headlights would adjust downwards to reduce
glare to on-coming traffic without compromising the improved
visibility HID headlamps give to drivers. On the other hand, if the
vehicle is carrying a lighter load and the rear is raised, the
headlights would adjust upwards to illuminate the road
properly.
- The LTA had worked with the Motor Traders Association of Singapore and the Automobile Importer & Exporter Association (Singapore) on this new requirement. The requirement will not be applied retrospectively to in-use vehicles with HID headlamps as extensive modifications would have to be made to the vehicle's headlamp system. The two-year lead time was reached after taking into consideration the feedback from motor traders that their vehicle manufacturers require that amount of time to comply with the new requirement.
- With effect from 1 January
2010, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will require all newly
registered vehicles fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID)
headlamps to be equipped with an auto-levelling feature, which is a
mechanism that automatically adjusts the headlamp angle and
direction based on road and driving conditions.
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