Abstract: A dashboard illumination system for a vehicle. The system is for a dashboard with an illumination system capable of providing at least a low level and a high level of illumination of the dashboard. A camera is positioned so that it can capture an image containing the eyes of a driver of the vehicle, and an image processor is in communication with the camera to determine, using the image(s) captured by the camera, whether the driver's eyes are directed towards the dashboard of the vehicle. A control system is in communication with the illumination system, and the control system, in response to the image processor indicating that the driver's eyes are directed towards the dashboard of the vehicle, instructs the illumination system to provide the high level of illumination of the dashboard.