HEADLIGHT REQUIREMENTS IN 1990-COST-BENEFITS AND MINI-FIELD TRIAL OF POLARIZED HEADLIGHTS

A study of future headlamp design requirements based on the predicted trends in vehicles, drivers and traffic to 1990 shows the need for improvements beyond those obtainable from current, normal, unpolarized types, particularly if road speeds above 55 mph are again authorized. A cost-benefit analysis of the nationwide adoption of polarized headlighting by 1990 shows benefits, in the avoidance of nighttime accidents, in the range of 2.5 to 3.8 to 1 over the costs of implementing polarization. An on-the-road field test with twenty average drivers and ten vehicles equipped with polarized headlights, showed that distances at which low reflectivity roadside targets could be detected improved with increased polarized light output from the headlamps (higher transmission polarizers), but were relatively little affected by analyzer (viewer) transmission characteristics.

• Corporate Authors:

  Southwest Research Institute

  6220 Culebra Road, P.O. Drawer 28510
  San Antonio, TX  United States  78228-0510

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hemion, R H
  • Hull, R W
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 130 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Design; Field tests; Headlamps; Lighting systems; Optical properties; Polarization; Polarized light; Prevention; Reflectivity; Safety; Specifications; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Requirement
• Old TRIS Terms: Transportation lighting
• Subject Areas: Design; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00143995
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: SwRI-AR-1055 Final Rpt., DOT-HS-801-980
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-5-01149
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 15 1977 12:00AM