Section 591 (Lighting Systems - Exterior (Service Information)): SMARTBEAM: Description
SmartBeam (4) is integrated into the interior rearview mirror (2). It uses digital light-sensing technology to monitor the lighting and traffic conditions in front of the vehicle. SmartBeam enhances the vehicle's headlamp system by assisting the driver with the task of turning the vehicle's high-beams ON and OFF according to surrounding traffic conditions. It helps improve forward visibility during nighttime driving by initiating high-beam usage as ambient lighting and traffic conditions allow.
When the SmartBeam system is enabled, it is dark enough to justify use of high beams, the vehicle is moving over 20 mph, and no other traffic is present, the high beams will gradually turn on. When the system detects an approaching vehicle's headlamps or a preceding vehicle's tail lamps, the high-beams will turn off.
Depending on the driving scenario, SmartBeam may fade the high-beams on and off, or control them off instantly. The high-beam indicator on the instrument panel will illuminate as soon as the high-beams start to come on, and will remain on until the high-beams have faded off completely. All SmartBeam-equipped vehicles, however, will quickly turn off the high-beams if the system detects the sudden presence of vehicle lights ahead. SmartBeam does not prevent the driver from using the high-beams manually. Flash-to-pass is still functional with SmartBeam.