Whether you’re heading home from a late-night event downtown or pulling into a tricky-to-find camping spot way past midnight, safety always comes first. In our ongoing efforts to provide maximum safety, Subaru has developed three significant technologies to make your drive more secure. We spoke with Subaru Carline Planning Manager Peter Tenn about these advances, which are important to the married father of two on not only a professional level but also a personal one. He and his family often set out on weekend camping trips that take them through the back roads of Southern New Jersey. “When we go camping, it’s often pitch black by the time we get there,” he says. “There are no streetlights, just your Subaru and the moon!”
Steering Responsive Headlights
Whether you’re on the freeway or navigating backcountry roads, available Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH)1 respond when you turn the wheel. “Using electronic motors, the headlights physically pivot left to right as you change the direction of your steering wheel,” says Tenn. This can be particularly helpful when cornering. “This is a feature that really comes in handy on our trips to Southern New Jersey, where the roads are anything but straight,” says Tenn.
as you change the direction of your steering wheel.
path of travel based on steering input.
High Beam Assist
Studies have shown that many drivers don’t use their high beams – though doing so has been demonstrated to improve nighttime visibility and reduce accidents. As a result, Subaru engineers developed High Beam Assist (HBA).3 HBA allows you to put your high beams on auto without worrying about blinding other drivers, and keep your hands on the wheel. When HBA is engaged, high beams automatically adjust to low when sensors detect sufficient lighting (e.g., street lights), a preceding vehicle (i.e., in front of you) or one oncoming (in an adjacent lane). “When you’re in rural areas, it can be particularly dark, so having the high beams on makes it a lot easier to see,” says Tenn. “And the system is fully automatic, which makes it worry-free.”
Reverse Automatic Braking
“When we introduced EyeSight in 2013, we helped prevent accidents when driving forward, and now, with RAB,4 we help prevent accidents when driving in reverse,” says Tenn. Four discreet ultrasonic sonar sensors in the rear bumper detect obstacles that are in the path of the vehicle when it’s backing up at low speeds. If you don’t heed the audio warnings, the system automatically applies the brakes in order to prevent a potential accident. “The first time you experience RAB, you’ll be glad you have it,” says Tenn.
1 SRH is available on 2017 Impreza and 2018 WRX, Forester, Outback, Legacy and Crosstrek. 2 EyeSight is a Driver Assist Technology which may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors such as vehicle maintenance, weather and road conditions. See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. Please remember to turn off EyeSight when going through a car wash. 3 HBA is available on 2017 and newer Impreza, Forester, Legacy and Outback, and 2018 WRX and Crosstrek. 4 Reverse Automatic Braking is a system designed to assist the driver by detecting objects to help avoid a possible collision when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction. It is not a substitute for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors such as vehicle maintenance, weather and road conditions. Always exercise caution and use vehicle mirrors and Rear-Vision Camera when backing up. See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. RAB is available on 2017 and newer Impreza, Forester, Legacy and Outback, and 2018 WRX and Crosstrek.
