United States Department of Transportation
i
A Relative Effectiveness Analysis of a Selected Fixed Lighting System Versus Vehicle Headlights
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1985-10-01
[PDF-2.10 MB]
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Edition:Appendix to Final Report
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Abstract:The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of a selected fixed lighting system and vehicle headlights in providing the visual inputs needed by drivers to detect a defined category of roadway hazards. Key parameters in the analysis included the position (distance and orientation) of a vehicle operator with respect to a detection target in the roadway, the characteristics (size, shape/configuration, reflectivity) of the detection target, the reflectance characteristics of the road surface, the estimated target and background luminance levels for a fixed lighting system, the estimated target and background luminance levels for a vehicle-based source of illumination, and the position of opposing vehicles (if any) with respect to an observer/driver. A conceptual model incorporating published decision-sight-distance (DSD) formulations was employed. Calculations were performed which indicated a marked superiority for fixed lighting systems as observer-target separation distance is increased and/or target reflectivity is decreased and/or an opposing vehicle is present and located (longitudinally) between the observer and the detection target/hazard. Road surface reflectance characteristics had a comparatively smaller impact on the present relative effectiveness calculations.
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