Vauxhall’s AFL system is shining light with top insurer
Insurance company Allianz has awarded its “Genius 2010” prize to Vauxhall/Opel for its AFL+safety lighting system. Rita Forst, Vice President Global Vehicle Engineering at Vauxhall/Opel, accepted it yesterday in Leipzig from Genius patron Karsten Crede, management board member of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AG.
Pedestrians and cyclists are difficult to see in the dark and are therefore often involved in serious accidents, Crede said in his speech. AFL+ (Adaptive Forward Lighting) optimises the driver’s range of visibility and illumination of the roadside without blinding oncoming traffic. According to Allianz, the system considerably reduces the risk of accidents at dusk and at night.
Forst accepted the award on behalf of the entire team of engineers who worked on the project. “We were the first car maker to bring AFL – the combination of dynamic xenon curve light and static cornering light – to the market back in 2002,” Forst said. “With AFL+, which has been on the Insignia since 2008 and available for the new Astra since last year, we offer the most advanced lighting system in the world. We are of course very pleased with this recognition of our work.”
Award-winning safety lighting system turns night into day
AFL+ ensures optimum visibility with nine automatic lighting functions. The system features bi-xenon headlamps with variable light beam distribution in width, direction and range for driving in the city, pedestrian areas, on country roads and highways. This is complemented by adverse weather light, dynamic curve light, cornering light, high beam assist and daytime running lights with LEDs. Sensors and software constantly monitor the surroundings, traffic and weather conditions so that the system can activate the appropriate lighting function.
This is the sixth time Allianz has given out the Genius award, which recognises innovation in public safety awareness and encourages car makers to develop new and existing technologies in support of this cause.
