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This paper describes several studies of headlighting and glare effects. It starts with a seeing-distance study, the results of which show that low-beam headlighting systems do not provide adequate illumination to reliably reveal low-contrast objects at any but relatively low speeds. The major barrier to increasing headlamp output is concern over glare effects. This paper describes two studies of glare. The results suggest that judgments of glare discomfort are influenced by the range of glare stimuli to which subjects are exposed, and that people are more tolerant of glare than previous laboratory studies indicate. A reanalysis of some field glare and illumination measurements is also offered. This points out the difficulties in controlling glare under real-world operating conditions. Recommendations are offered for a program that would move toward eventual achievement by an optimum low-beam lighting system.

We collected photometric data, concerning the simultaneous levels of rearview mirror glare and luminance of the forward scene, in order to characterize the night driving environment for rearview mirrors. An instrumented vehicle was used to collect photometric data for each combination of three road types (urban, expressway, and rural) with two pavement conditions (dry and wet). We then used these data to quantify the benefits of variable-reflectance rearview mirrors relative to (1) fixed-reflectance mirrors, and (2) two-level prism mirrors. The performance of the various types of mirrors was quantified in terms of a figure of merit. The figure of merit is simply the percentage of the time that all of three mirror-performance measures are met: (1) discomfort glare, (2) forward visibility, and (3) rearward visibility.

Electrochromic rearview mirrors can provide continuous levels of reflectivity and unobtrusive, automatic control. The availability of this technology has increased the importance of understanding how to select the best level of reflectivity for a given set of lighting conditions. For night driving with glare from following headlights, the best reflectivity level will always depend on a tradeoff among several variables. This study was designed to help clarify what variables are important and how they should be quantified. Twenty subjects, 10 younger and 10 older, performed a number of visual tasks while viewing stimuli through an electrochromic rearview mirror. Subjects were seated in an automobile mockup in a laboratory, and the reflectivity level of the mirror was changed before each of a series of discrete trials. On each trial, subjects saw reflected in the mirror a visual-acuity stimulus and a glare source of varying intensity.

This study evaluated the relative effects of horizontal and vertical misaim of low-beam headlamps. The approach involved analyzing light-output matrices of 150 production low beams, manufactured for sale in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The specific analysis involved computing, for 225 locations in the central part of each beam pattern, the ratios of nominal intensity and intensity for vertical and horizontal misaim of up to 1.5°. The ratios greater than 1 log unit were considered to be of practical significance in terms of changes in visual performance and discomfort glare, and those greater than 0.5 log unit of likely significance. Only changes relative to visual performance and glare under nominal aim were considered; absolute levels were not examined. Furthermore, simultaneous horizontal and vertical misaims were not considered.