DISCOMFORT GLARE: A REVIEW OF SOME RESEARCH (ABRIDGEMENT)

Research is being undertaken to establish discomfort glare standards for North American fixed-roadway lighting. In one study, participants were asked to adjust a single glare source to the borderline between comfort and discomfort (BCD). The independent variables were glare source size, position, and background luminence. It was found that there was more variation in BCD associated with individual differences among the participants than among the independent variables. Age tended to correlate with glare sensitivity, as did having light-colored eyes and an indoor occupation. No correlation with glare sensitivity was found with personality or attitude variables. While this study has been helpful in setting glare discomfort standards in single source situations (In most cases, discomfort can be eliminated by raising the mounting height), more research will be needed to set standards for situations, such as at interchanges, where vast arrays of many light sources appear in the field of view.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1979/737/737-012.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DISCOMFORT+GLARE%3A+A+REVIEW+OF+SOME+RESEARCH+(ABRIDGEMENT)&author=C.+Bennett&publication_year=1979
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Visibility. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Bennett, Corwin A
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 84-86
• Monograph Title: TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, GEOMETRICS, VISIBILITY, AND ROUTE GUIDANCE
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 737
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Annoyance; Brightness; Comfort; Glare; Height; Human factors; Perception; Personality; Street lighting
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00315072
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309029929
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 511
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 8 1980 12:00AM