According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administation, 64 percent of automotive-related pedestrian fatalities occur at night, yet only 25 percent of all driving is done after dark. Next year, Autoliv Inc., a worldwide leader in automotive safety, plans to introduce its second-generation automotive night-vision system with a much-improved ability to automatically recognize hazards.
Live objects glow more brightly in the night-vision monitor. In addition, infrared can "see" three or four times farther down the road than standard headlights. The system gives drivers as much warning as possible that a person or animal is in danger of being hit, with enough margin to allow for stopping or evasive maneuvers. Drivers typically will get a four-second warning on the night-vision monitor of any live object in the vehicle's path.
Currently, night vision is available only in the United States on BMW 5-, 6- and 7-Series models, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan.
