Well, ECE R20 was ratified in 1985 and is clearly a superior standard than SAE/DOT/FVMSS108. Not a single U.S.-made car has headlights that conforms to the higher standard. R20 defines better cutoff and allows for more light on the road by reducing glare above centreline. Also defines a wider pattern for clearer viewing of sidwalks and pedestrians. Only a triple-axis ellipsoloid reflector can produce such a lighting pattern. One of the major reasons the big-three blocked such standards, higher-cost and lower profit-margins. Then again, most U.S. consumers wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway.

Other standards such as AFS (automatic leveling) have been around for over 25-years as well. Pack a bunch of groceries and passengers into your car and the headlights are now aimed 2-3 degrees above horizontal. Gee, would be nice if the headlights were smart enough to correct themselves.

Instead, we have ricer gang-bangers with illegal HID upgrades in their filament reflectors who think that blinding everyone on the road is cool. Yeah, very forward thinking.


BTW - way back when, the U.S. was a leader in textiles, clothing and more recently consumer-electronics. Where are these leaders now? Heck, once upon a time, some far off middle-eastern country in the desert was at the top of civilization and could build great stone monuments that no one can replicate even today. Certainly don't see them claiming that fame to put themselves on top today eh?