Ford headlights to project street signs

FORD engineers in the UK are trialling a new headlight technology that may help ensure those behind the wheel can keep their eyes on the road – literally!

The innovative headlight projection technology can project directions, speed limits or weather information on to the road ahead so that drivers can maintain their focus on the road, without having to avert their gaze or shift their focus to look at the car’s head-up display or instrument panel.

Ford of Europe says that night-time collisions make up 40 per cent of all accidents on UK roads, even though there are far fewer people travelling in the darker hours. It says the risk of an accident is greatly increase whenever a driver takes their eyes off the road, pointing out that a vehicle travelling at 90km/h covers 25 metres per second.

With even short glances away from the road ahead having the potential to be deadly, Ford of Europe says its new technology can greatly reduce the instances of “driving blind”.

Further, the firm says the ability to project information onto the road surface using high-resolution headlights may have benefits for other road users too.

“For example, a pedestrian crossing may be projected onto the road in situations where existing markings are faded or unclear or show a path for the driver to follow to ensure cyclists are passed at a safe distance,” Ford said.

The company said the technology could even be used to provide the driver with information about changes in weather, such as falling snow, fog, slippery conditions, or an icy road ahead. Connecting the headlights to the navigation system could also provide turn-by-turn instructions, or even let the driver know if they’re headed for a narrow street, low bridge or into a too-tight parking space.

Speaking on the technology to media this week, Ford of Europe features and software and advanced driver assistance systems engineer, Lars Junker, said the company was endeavouring to make night-driving more comfortable and that they were committed to developing technologies that serve and inspire drivers now and into the future.

“What started as playing around with a projector light and a blank wall could take lighting technologies to a whole new level,” said Mr Junkers.

“There’s the potential now to do so much more than simply illuminate the road ahead, to help reduce the stress involved in driving at night. The driver could get essential information without ever needing to take their eyes off the road.”