EVALUATION OF GLARE FROM DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS

Experiments were conducted to determine effects of Daytime Running Light (DRL) intensity on driver discomfort glare when using internal and side rearview mirrors. DRL lamps were placed behind a test vehicle as if mounted on a following vehicle. Discomfort glare was evaluated as a function of lamp intensity, vehicle/lamp geometry, lamp-to-lamp distance, and driver age. Field tests and experiments have suggested that the use of DRL on vehicles may have potential for reduction of daytime collision likelihood and severity. While enhancement of vehicle conspicuity in daylight appears to increase with lamp intensity, questions have arisen involving possible counter-productive effects of high DRL intensity such as production of discomfort glare under dawn/dusk or overcast daytime illumination levels. Discomfort glare was found to be largely independent of lamp-to-mirror distance over the range studied. The finding implied that DRL lamp luminance in candela per unit area and DRL lamp area as well as intensity should be considered in recommending lamp design characteristics to limit discomfort glare. The data did not support the hypothesis that elderly drivers would experience more severe discomfort glare for a given lamp output than would younger drivers.

• Corporate Authors:

  Carlow Associates

  8315 Lee Highway
  Fairfax, VA  United States  22031
• Authors:
  • Kirkpatrick, M
  • MARSHALL, R K
• Publication Date: 1989-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 91 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Crashes; Daytime running lamps; Drivers; Glare; Lamps; Luminosity factor; Reaction time; Vehicle lighting; Vision
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver age; Driver reaction
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver vision; Luminosity
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00495204
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-807 502
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-87-D-17106
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 31 1995 12:00AM