EVALUATION OF MEETING BEAMS BY FIELD TESTS AND COMPUTER SIMULATION

The objective of this study was to conduct field experiments to evaluate alternative meeting beams in terms of visibility distances and glare effects. The conventional U.S. and European low beams were used as a basis for comparison with the experimental mid beams. There was generally good agreement between computer simulation predicted visibility distances and those obtained in the field test. It was concluded that improved meeting beams should incorporate the general characteristics of the mid beams used in these tests and that the mid beams should be dimmed when meeting another vehicle which is in the outside lane and when following another vehicle at distances of less than about 200 ft.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association of the United States, Inc., Detroit, Mich.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  Highway Safety Research Institute
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States 

  Motor Vehicles Manufacturers Association

  320 New Center Building
  Detroit, MI  United States  48202
• Authors:
  • Mortimer, R G
  • Olson, P L
• Publication Date: 1974-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 53 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distance; Field tests; Following distance; Glare; Headlamps; Low beamed headlamps; Mathematical models; Motor vehicles; Simulation; Traffic safety; Visibility
• Old TRIS Terms: Following distance (Of vehicles); Low beamed headlights
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00094182
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: UM-HSRI-HF-74-27 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 29 1976 12:00AM