PREDICTING TARGET-DETECTION DISTANCE WITH HEADLIGHTS

This paper presents results of field research conducted to study the applicability of laboratory threshold visibility data in predicting seeing distances to stand-up and road-surface by use of different headlight beam patterns. A vehicle equipped with a precision odometer system was used to measure detection distances of 12 subjects under different target-background-glare conditions. The subject testing was followed by extensive photometry to measure the only on an origin area, & that the spatial aggregation bias condition. The reflectance properties of the pavement and road shoulder were also mapped. Detection distances were predicted from directly measured brightness and brightness computed from target and background reflectance data, ambient brightness, and assumed head-lamp beam patterns. A comparison of field observed and predicted seeing distances showed good to excellent agreement. The necessary contrast multipliers needed to account for factors such as complexity of road surface delineation and transient adapatation are also discusse. /Author/

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/611/611-001.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PREDICTING+TARGET-DETECTION+DISTANCE+WITH+HEADLIGHTS&author=V.+Bhise&author=E.+Farber&author=P.+McMahan&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309025877
• 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:
  • Bhise, Vivek D
  • Farber, Eugene I
  • McMahan, Paul B
• Discussers:
  • DONOHUE, R J
  • Hemion, Roger H
  • Ayad, Adel A
  • Mortimer, R G
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-16
• Monograph Title: Railroad-highway crossings, visibility, and human factors
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 611
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brightness; Contrast; Distance; Forecasting; Glare; Headlamps; Highway safety; Laboratory studies; Mapping; Oedometers; Perception; Photometry; Reflectivity; Tracking systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Reflectance
• Old TRIS Terms: Target detection; Thresholds (Perception)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163038
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025877
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-021 004
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM