New Ford Headlights Set the Mood

Ford Motor Co. says its new “Crystal Diamond” light-emitting-diode headlights are less likely to put oncoming drivers in a bad mood.  

The carmaker, which launched the technology on the 2016 F-150 fullsize pickup truck, says the specially designed headlights provide a more even and broader light distribution than current LEDs and traditional lights.

Lighting gradients and homogeneity can affect people's moods, Ford notes. It points out that the natural tendency of the eye is to focus on contrast changes and other inconsistencies, which can make someone irritable.

The F-150 headlights have faceted lenses and reflectors to aid the LED’s dispersion. To enhance the effect, the quad-beam LED units are surrounded by empty space within the larger headlight housings.

Ford plans to expand the use of the new headlights to other vehicles, starting with the 2017 Fusion midsize car.

The company also is developing more soothing interior lights. For the dashboard, the company says its new “Ice Blue” illumination hue provides good contrast in low-light conditions. Ford says deep reds and greens should be avoided in such applications because they are the colors most linked with color blindness, which affects about 8% of the population.