EVALUATION OF THE CONSPICUITY OF DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS

In both Scandinavia and Canada, Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) have been required for use on all motor vehicles to improve their conspicuity and to reduce crashes. To help evaluate the possible benefits of using DRLs in the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsored research to quantify the relationship between vehicle detectability and DRL intensity over a range of ambient light levels characteristic of the U.S. environment. The results showed that 1,600 candela was the minimum DRL intensity needed to significantly improve vehicle detectability under ambient light levels below 4,000 footcandles of horizontal illuminance. Under brighter conditions, DRL effectiveness was greatly diminished.

• Corporate Authors:

  Government Printing Office

  Superintendent of Documents
  Washington, DC  United States  20402-9325
• Authors:
  • Perel, M
• Publication Date: 1991-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 32-37
• Serial:
  • AUTO & TRAFFIC SAFETY
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Daytime running lamps; Environment; Safety; Traffic safety; Vehicle detectors; Visibility
• Geographic Terms: Canada; Scandinavia
• Old TRIS Terms: Ambience
• Subject Areas: Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00619130
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 29 1992 12:00AM