THE RELATIVE MERITS OF DIFFERENT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTING SYSTEMS. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The report covers the historical development of automotive headlighting and describes the differences between European and American concepts in terms of photometrics and construction. The advantages and disadvantages of each system are described. The main section of the paper is a description of research comparing European and American headlighting systems. There are a number of such studies. The most usual finding is one of small or no differences in seeing distances. The few studies which report larger differences do not agree which system is better. It is concluded that there is presently no objective way of determining which headlighting system is better. What is clear is that headlighting is a complex subject and the available research evidence, even if it favored one system or the other, covers only some aspects of the problem.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with California State Business and Transportation Agency, Sacramento, and California State Office of Traffic Safety, Sacramento.
• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Safety Research Institute

  Huron Parkway and Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109

  California Department of Transportation

  1120 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

  California Office of Traffic Safety

  7000 Franklin Boulevard
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95823
• Authors:
  • Olson, P
• Publication Date: 1977-12-19

Media Info

• Pagination: 105 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Automobiles; Construction; Distance; Headlamps; Lighting systems; Low beamed headlamps; Measures of effectiveness; Photometry; Reviews
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Geographic Terms: United States; Western Europe
• Old TRIS Terms: Illuminating; Low beamed headlights; Luminaries
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175803
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: UM-HSRI-77-55 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 28 1978 12:00AM