1. An adaptive forward lighting system for a vehicle, said adaptive forward lighting system comprising: an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensor elements, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward of the direction of travel of the controlled vehicle; wherein said imaging sensor views through a portion of the vehicle windshield that is swept by a windshield wiper of the controlled vehicle; a control, said control processing image data from said imaging sensor; wherein said control processes said image data to determine, at least in part, at least one of (i) the presence of an object of interest in the forward field of view of said imaging sensor, (ii) the location of an object of interest in the forward field of view of said imaging sensor, and (iii) a characteristic of an object of interest in the forward field of view of said imaging sensor; wherein a beam pattern of a vehicle headlamp of the controlled vehicle is adjusted responsive, at least in part, to said processing of said image data; wherein said adaptive forward lighting system comprises at least one of (i) a time-based filter and (ii) dynamic segmentation; wherein said control receives vehicle data via a vehicle communication bus; and wherein said control, responsive to said processing of said image data, is operable to provide, at least in part, at least one of (a) traffic lane detection, (b) lane departure warning, (c) traffic sign recognition, (d) traffic light status detection, (e) fog detection, (f) rain sensing, (g) adaptive cruise control, (h) pre-crash sensing, (i) pedestrian detection and (j) a supplement to the use of other sensors of the controlled vehicle.