What Are Adaptive Headlights (Feux Adaptatifs)?\n\nAdaptive headlights are modern vehicle lighting systems designed to improve visibility during night-time driving, specifically along winding roads and curves. While conventional headlights project a static beam straight in front of the vehicle, adaptive headlights use electronic sensors to monitor steering wheel angle, vehicle speed, and yaw rate. These sensors send real-time data to small electric motors inside the headlight assemblies, which dynamically pivot the headlight beams. This ensures that the road ahead is actively illuminated, rather than the dark roadside or oncoming traffic lanes.\n\n## How Do Adaptive Headlights Improve Road Safety in Curves?\n\nWhen a vehicle equipped with standard headlights approaches a curve at night, the light beams shine directly off the road, illuminating empty space or the shoulder. This creates a critical visual blind spot on the actual road curve, making it difficult to detect pedestrians, cyclists, or unexpected obstacles in time. By turning the light beams into the curve, adaptive headlights extend the driver's visible field of view significantly. Studies show this technology improves reaction times, allowing drivers to spot hazards up to a few seconds earlier, which is critical at higher speeds on country roads.\n\n## Adaptive Headlights in the French Code de la Route Exam\n\nOn the French driving theory test (ETG), adaptive headlights are categorized under vehicle safety technology, driver assistance systems (ADAS), and night-time driving rules. Exam questions often test your awareness of how these electronic aids assist with hazard perception (perception des risques) without replacing the driver's vigilance. Candidates should remember that while adaptive systems reduce visual fatigue and increase active safety, they do not change standard speed limits or the basic legal requirements for using high and low beams (feux de route and feux de croisement) when encountering other road users.\n\n## Advanced Features: Automatic Dimming and Glare Prevention\n\nMany modern adaptive headlight setups work in tandem with automatic high-beam assist (assistant de feux de route). These systems use front-facing cameras to detect the headlights or tail lights of other vehicles. They can selectively block out portions of the headlight beam to prevent glaring oncoming drivers while keeping the rest of the road fully illuminated. Understanding this integration is highly useful for theory questions regarding glare prevention and the proper management of vehicle lighting on dark main roads.