NIGHT DRIVING VISIBILITY WITH PRESENT EUROPEAN HEADLIGHTS

Using visibility distance as a criterion, halogen and conventional continental European high and low bean were experimentally compared in a series of field experiments. The main results were as follows. On high beam without opposing light, visibility distances are acceptable. The halogen headlights offered about 25% longer visibility distances (190 m) than the conventional headlights (155 m). With both opposing cars using low beam, visibility distances even under these very favorable conditions were quite insufficient (45-55 m). There was a slight advantage (less than 5 m) in favor of halogen headlights. The optimal dipping distance was a function of high beam system (intensity) rather than low beam system. Small differences in aiming, atmosphere, etc., caused larger differences in visibility distances than did the headlight system. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Appeared in Symposium on psychological Aspects of Driver Behavior, Vol. 2-Applied Research.
• Corporate Authors:

  Road Safety Research Foundation

  P.O. Box 71, Deernsstraat 1
  Voorburg 2110,   Netherlands 
• Authors:
  • Rumar, K
• Publication Date: 1971-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distance; Field tests; Halogens; High beamed headlamps; Low beamed headlamps; Night visibility
• Old TRIS Terms: High beamed headlights; Low beamed headlights; Test results
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00099566
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-013 490, HS-013 495
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 5 1975 12:00AM