IMPROVED LOW-BEAM PHOTOMETRICS

The purpose of this project was to determine what changes might be made to the automotive low-beam lighting specifications to improve driver nighttime performance. The project was carried out in two phases. In Phase 1 the literature was reviewed and four studies of rear view mirror glare problems were conducted. Recommendations were made for modifications to the low-beam system. In Phase 2 several laboratory and field studies were carried out. These were concerned with discomfort glare, foreground illumination, and beam color. An analysis of system performance of headlamp beams was conducted, using data from another study. Headlamps embodying the photometrics recommended in Phase 1 were fabricated and tested in a target identification study. The experimental lamps generally outperformed the control systems. Computer modeling techniques were used to expand the analysis to include hills and curves. The various lighting systems that had been field tested were also analyzed using the Ford CHESS model to evaluate system performance. Systems that did well on the earlier tests did no better than the control systems based on this procedure. Based on the results of the experimental work reported here, recommendations were made for changes to the low-beam specifications in FMVSS 108.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Olson, P L
  • Sivak, M
• Publication Date: 1983-3

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 194 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Field tests; Glare; Headlamps; Laboratory tests; Low beamed headlamps; Performance based specifications; Performance evaluations; Photometry; Rearview mirrors; Recommendations; Specifications
• Identifier Terms: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
• Old TRIS Terms: Low beamed headlights
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00394296
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTRI-83-9 Final Rpt., HS-806 488
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-9-02304
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM