STUDY OF DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT DESIGN FACTORS

Prior research has suggested that use of daytime running lights (DRL) on operating vehicles can reduce the frequency and severity of collisions. Possible DRL implementations include high-beam headlamps (with reduced intensity), low-beam headlamps, turn signals, parking lamps and dedicated DRL lamps. Questions have, therefore, arisen regarding the impact on DRL effectiveness of a number of lamp design features and parameters. Research issues involve the effects on vehicle conspicuity under daytime illumination but also potential negative consequences of DRL such as masking of adjacent turn signals and glare under dawn/dusk conditions. The objective of the effort reported here was to obtain data on perceptual effects of DRL intensity, lamp area, color, number of lamps and lamp/background contrast in the above areas. Three experiments were performed to investigate human performance as functions of these design parameters in tasks involving peripheral vehicle detection, turn signal detection and rearview mirror discomfort glare produced by DRL.

• Corporate Authors:

  Carlow Associates

  8315 Lee Highway
  Fairfax, VA  United States  22031
• Authors:
  • Kirkpatrick, M
  • Baker, C C
  • Heasly, C C
• Publication Date: 1987-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 103 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Contrast; Daytime running lamps; Design; Glare; Visibility
• Uncontrolled Terms: Intensity
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00468550
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-807 193
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1988 12:00AM