Visibility from Vehicle Headlamps and Roadway Lighting in Urban, Suburban and Rural Locations 2010-01-0298

In real world driving conditions, illumination from vehicle headlamps and, when present, from fixed roadway lighting combines to provide visibility for the driver. We present analyses of visibility along a representative roadway intersection scenario with median and market-weighted headlamp beam patterns including halogen and high intensity discharge headlamp beam patterns, and high beam headlamp beam patterns. Also investigated are interactions with the spatial extent of roadway lighting, either as part of a continuous lighting system or as a single roadway luminaire at the intersection junction, and the role of ambient illuminance from urban environments. The results of the analyses show the large influence of ambient illuminance from urban areas on the visibility of relevant targets, and show differential advantages of different headlamp beam patterns for different target locations where pedestrians might be encountered.