Visual performance and safety benefits of adaptive driving beam headlighting systems

PDFTech ReportTLA 2015-01Adaptive controlHighway safetyVisibilityPhotometryGlareHigh beamed headlampsLuminous intensityUnited StatesRensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Lighting Research CenterBullough, John D.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Lighting Research CenterTransportation Lighting AllianceUS Transportation CollectionIt has been understood for many years that driving above certain speeds at night while using low beamheadlights can result in insufficient visibility to respond to hazards on the road. As new vehicleheadlighting technologies emerge, the practicality of intelligent, adaptive high-beam functions hasincreased so much that these systems are now commercially available in many parts of the world. Thesetechnical developments in turn invite questions about the optimal photometric performance of high beamheadlights. One important barrier to the more frequent use of high beam headlighting systems has beenconcerns about creating glare to the drivers of oncoming and preceding vehicles. If it can be demonstratedthat adaptive high-beam control can provide acceptable glare control, it may be possible to question theneed for the current limits on the luminous intensity of high-beam headlights. In this report, visualperformance analyses are summarized that allow the evaluation of the potential benefits of increasedluminous intensity on forward visibility, and potential implications for driving safety are discussed