DISAPPEARING HEADLIGHTS: AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A NEW STYLING TREND IN AUTOMOBILES

THE AUTHOR EVALUATES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DISAPPEARING HEADLIGHTS. IN SUPPORT OF HIS STATEMENT "HEADLIGHT CONCEALMENT....OFFERS NO ADVANTAGES BEYOND NOVELTY," HE POINTS OUT THE FOLLOWING DISADVANTAGES: (1) THEY MAKE THE DIRECTION OF A MOVING CAR HARD TO DETECT; (2) THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OFTEN AN EFFECTIVE DEVICE TO USE AS A WARNING SIGNAL AND WITH DISAPPEARING HEADLIGHTS, FLASHING ONES LIGHTS REQUIRES SEVERAL SECONDS TO GET THEM UNCOVERED; (3) CONCEALED HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT CLEANED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT NOTICED OR EXPOSED TO RAIN AND THE ACCUMULATED DIRT CAUSES GLARE; AND (4) THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF MECHANICAL FAILURE (THIS OCCURRED IN THE 1968 FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S COUGARS WHICH WERE RECALLED BECAUSE THE LIGHTS FAILED IN AN UNSAFE POSITION, THAT IS, THEY WOULD NOT OPEN). /SRIS/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00030244
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 40, No 6, 2 PP, 4 REF
• Corporate Authors:

  American Optometric Association

  7000 Chippewa Street
  St Louis, MO  United States  63119
• Authors:
  • Allen, M J
• Publication Date: 1969

Media Info

• Serial:
  • American Optometric Association Journal
  • Publisher: American Optometric Association
  • ISSN: 0003-0244

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Equipment; Evaluation; Failure; Flashing; Glare; Headlamps; Transportation disadvantaged persons; Warning systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Cover; Disadvantage
• Subject Areas: Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223075
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 4 1970 12:00AM