TOWARD MORE EFFECTIVE HEADLIGHTING

Studies on headlighting are reported which explored the problem of misaimed headlamps, investigated the potential advantages of a three-beam system as an alternative to the present high-low, two beam system, and developed a computer simulation-technique for evaluating performance of present and experimental headlamp systems and beams. The first study was designed to determine how many vehicles in use have misaimed headlamps, how much they are misaimed, and the reasons for the misaiming. In field tests for the second study, driver subjects used a three-beam system, followed by the development and evaluation of 13 different control/display designs for a three-beam headlamp system. The mathematical values established in the field were used to refine and validate the simulation model. It was concluded from the results of the studies that unless current problems of beam misaim can be solved, new beams with higher intensities or different illumination patterns will not produce significantly safe or more comfortable nighttime driving conditions.

• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Safety Research Institute

  Huron Parkway and Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109
• Publication Date: 1974-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 25 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Drivers; Evaluation; Field tests; Glare; Headlamps; Information processing; Night visibility; Performance; Simulation; Vehicle lighting
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00082735
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UM-HSRI-RI-74-2
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 26 1975 12:00AM