Like all things recon nowadays, nighttime cases are going to require a bit more sophistication and attention moving forward due to ADB.

ADB = adaptive driving beam headlamps, a technology that actively modifies a vehicle’s headlamp pattern to maximize illumination without blinding other drivers. Got to love that. Here’s an example of the system in action. The fog really helps to see the pattern:

While ADBs have been legal in Europe since 2006, and quite common since 2013, they only became legal in the United States in 2022. Here’s the document with all the specs (glare limits, response time, tech specs for OEMs, etc.), and here’s some detailed testing the NHTSA conducted in 2015.

Though legal four years ago, the tech has only recently made it to roadway, and it’s still quite rare. That’s because the NHTSA regulations are far stricter, so manufacturers couldn’t just update vehicle software to release the feature.

Instead, they’re having to modify headlamps and related processors to increase resolution and reduce response time. The OEMs petitioned for relaxed requirements, but the request was denied.

As of this writing, the following vehicles have ADB (check owner’s manuals when you’re working a case to be sure):

  • Audi – 2026 A6, Q3, Q7, and SQ7

  • BMW – 2026 5 and 7 series, and X7

  • Cadillac – 2026 Celestiq

  • Land Rover – 2026 Range Rover SE and higher

  • Mercedes – 2026 S-Class and EQS

  • Porsche – 2025+ Taycan and Panamera

  • Rivian – Almost all R1S/T

  • Tesla – 2024+ Model 3 and Y, 2022+ Model S, 2023+ Model X, and Cybertruck

If you’re analyzing a nighttime collision involving a vehicle with ADB, especially one where something like pedestrian conspicuity is an issue, a bit more leg work will likely be required to fully understand the situation. I suspect we’ll get some practical guidance from the human factors pros among us before long.

Thanks for reading, keep learning!

Lou Peck
Lightpoint | JS Forensics

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