POOR VISIBILITY UNDER LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS: A COMMON CAUSE OF WRONG-WAY DRIVING

Through selected case studies, this paper illustrates the way in which the inadequate visibility of road signs and pavement markings at night contributes to wrong-way driving. A concept termed the keg of legibility, which delineates the limits of nighttime visibility under low-beam headlights, is described. The application of the keg-of-legibility concept to the placement of signs, markings, and additional devices that help guide the motorist through the intersection of a four-lane divided highway and another road is discussed. Examples of wrong-way entry on roads having poor geometrics are used to emphasize the need for such guidance. /Author/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1977/628/628-010.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=POOR+VISIBLITY+UNDER+LOW-BEAM+HEADLIGHTS%3a+A+COMMON+CAUSE+OF+WRONG-WAY+DRIVING&author=N.+Vaswani&publication_year=1977
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Visibility. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Vaswani, N K
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 52-56
• Monograph Title: Lighting, visibility and railroad-highway grade crossings
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 628
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Divided highways; Highway safety; Legislation; Low beamed headlamps; Night visibility; Road markings; Traffic signs; Visibility; Wrong way driving
• Old TRIS Terms: Legislative intent; Low beamed headlights; Traffic marking
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00168084
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309026539
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-022 157
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 30 1989 12:00AM