INTERACTION BETWEEN FIXED AND VEHICULAR ILLUMINATION SYSTEMS-PHASE II INTERIM REPORT

This report summarizes the work accomplished during Phase II of the project. The report describes a series of response-detection experiments relating driver response to such variables as illumination level, uniformity ratio, glare, target reflectance, target position and vehicle lighting; the modification of the lighting facilities at the test site (a city block in Philadelphia) to enable lighting levels and uniformity to be independently varied over wide ranges; the development of a data collection system using Tapeswitch to collect all position-velocity-acceleration data; a series of computer programs to reduce and analyze the Tapeswitch data; a review of 1971 roadway lighting costs; and a literature review of the relationships between highway lighting safety. The major conclusions of the response-detection experiments were that (1) the Tapeswitch system provides sufficient sensitivity to discriminate across changes in seeing condition, (2) drivers' responses to increased illumination and finer uniformities almost always showed positive change, and (3) vehicle headlighting mode does not seem to contribute significantly to seeing at illumination levels above one footcandle. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  Franklin Institute

  20th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  Philadelphia, PA  United States  19103

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Research, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Gallagher, V P
  • Janoff, M S
  • Blubaugh, J G
  • Vetere, P L
• Publication Date: 1972-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 119 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceleration (Mechanics); Brightness; Data analysis; Drivers; Glare; Mathematical analysis; Reaction time; Reflectivity; Street lighting; Vehicle lighting; Velocity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction; Interaction; Reflectance
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00335931
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-72- 23, F-C2873, FCP 31L2-012
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FH-11-7599
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 22 1981 12:00AM