THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF AUTOMOBILE HEADLAMP CHANGES ON THE VISIBILITY OF REFLECTORIZED OVERHEAD HIGHWAY GUIDE SIGNS

This is an examination of the effects of low-beam headlamp design changes on the conspicuity and visibility of overhead guide signs on U.S. roads and highways as well as the safety impact of such design changes. The headlight design changes discussed are permissible under present national standards and will meet all photometric requirements of Standard J579c. This paper also develops lighting intensity values required for minimum overhead sign visibility, reviews the performance of current U.S. sealed-beam and European headlamps, and suggests some changes to SAE Standard J579c to assure the continued usefulness of unlit overhead guide signs.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1586080
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Arens, J B
• Publication Date: 1987-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 42-47
• Serial:
  • Public Roads
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Federal Highway Administration
  • ISSN: 0033-3735
  • Serial URL: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Highway safety; Low beamed headlamps; Overhead traffic signs; Reflective signs; Standards; Traffic signs; Visibility
• Old TRIS Terms: Low beamed headlights
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00474712
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 31 1987 12:00AM