00476059

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1987/1149/1149-003.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...TMAN&publication_year=1987

Decisions regarding low-beam headlamp modeling are generally made following evaluation of pedestrian target visibility and glare to oncoming motorists. Retroreflective traffic control signs are parts of the model that have long been ignored, yet they are essential adjuncts to safety. The widespread use of retroreflective materials for information, regulation, and warning signs and their inclusion in many official standards suggested that the comparison of U.S. and Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) lower-beam headlamps should be made to reveal the consequences of further light reduction above the horizontal axis. Comparison of photometrics above the horizontal axis in the direction of commonly placed traffic signs for a variety of distances was used to determine the luminances for three types of material. The study permits comparisons among existing headlamp types and illustrates the significant deterioration in sign luminances that accompanies the use of ECE lower beam headlamps, or the alteration of U.S. lower beam photometrics to more closely correspond to those of ECE headlamps. The study permits some consideration of retroreflective material choice, depending on headlamp type, sign position, and sign luminance requirements.

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

00623530

pp 11-14

1987

Transportation Research Record

0-309-04659-9

Print

Figures (1) ; References (8) ; Tables (5)

Distance; Glare; Headlamps; Location; Low beamed headlamps; Luminous intensity; Materials; Photometry; Position fixing; Retroreflection; Traffic signs; Visibility

Highways; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Sep 30 1988 12:00AM

• CHARACTERIZING DISCOMFORT GLARE FROM ROADWAY LIGHTING
• CONTRAST SENSITIVITY, DRIVERS' VISIBILITY, AND VISION STANDARDS
• DRIVER LATERAL CONTROL PERFORMANCE AS A FUNCTION OF DELINEATION
• EFFECT OF ALTERNATE POPULATION MIXES ON DESIGN EYE LOCATIONS IN VEHICLES
• EFFECT OF ALTERNATIVE REDUCED LIGHTING TECHNIQUES ON HAZARD DETECTION
• ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM FUNCTIONAL REFLECTANCE FOR RAISED PAVEMENT MARKERS
• LEGIBILITY OF FREEWAY GUIDE SIGNS AS DETERMINED BY SIGN MATERIALS
• MARINE VISIBILITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD
• MEASURING WET-NIGHT DELINEATION REFLECTIVITY
• USE OF REFLECTORIZATION TO REDUCE TRUCK-TRAILER ACCIDENTS