Lighting for Driving: Roads, Vehicles, Signs, and Signals

by Boyce; Peter R.

• ISBN13: 9780849385292
• ISBN10: 0849385296
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-12-04
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

Integrates Vehicle, Signal, and Road Lighting into a Unified SystemMany people drive many miles after dark and rely on lighting to help them gather information about the road ahead and the presence and intentions of other people on and near the road. With new technology on the industry's horizon, Lighting for Driving: Roads, Vehicle, Signs and Signals conveys the crucial role lighting plays in road safety and examines how it could be used more effectively.Authored by a lighting and visibility expert, this book explains the thinking and scientific reasoning behind various forms of lighting and analyzes their contribution to the driver's understanding of real and potential road hazards. Filled with useful information, this resource straightforwardly addresses a wide range of safety factors encountered in real driving situations, such as weather conditions, complex signage, and driver age. It also deals with the often-ignored consequences of too muchlight, such as light trespass and sky glow.Comprehensively Explores the Field, Emphasizing Improved SafetyVehicle, road, sign, and signal lighting are provided to enable drivers to reach their destinations quickly and safely. However, the attention given to how these forms of lighting function is likely to change as new technology is introduced and understanding of ergonomics and human factors improves. This book effectively illustrates how these forms of lighting can be modified to work together to best provide a coherent flow of information to the driver.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgements	p. xv
Translation	p. xvii
Driving and Accidents	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Driving as a Visual Task	p. 1
The Role of Lighting in Driving	p. 2
Visual Size	p. 3
Luminance Contrast	p. 3
Colour Difference	p. 4
Retinal Image Quality	p. 5
Retinal Illuminance	p. 5
The Effectiveness of Lighting	p. 6
The Benefits of Light for Different Types of Accident	p. 10
Summary	p. 15
Light	p. 19
Introduction	p. 19
Light and Radiation	p. 19
The Measurement of Light-Photometry	p. 21
Definitions	p. 21
Some Limitations	p. 24
The Measurement of Light-Colourimetry	p. 25
The CIE Colourimetry System	p. 26
Colour Order Systems	p. 28
Application Metrics	p. 30
Correlated Colour Temperature	p. 30
CIE Colour Rendering Index	p. 30
Scotopic/Photopic Ratio	p. 31
Light Sources	p. 32
The Incandescent Light Source	p. 32
The Tungsten-Halogen Light Source	p. 33
The Fluorescent Light Source	p. 34
The Mercury Vapour Light Source	p. 35
The Metal Halide Light Source	p. 35
The Low-Pressure Sodium Light Source	p. 35
The High-Pressure Sodium Light Source	p. 36
Induction Light Sources	p. 36
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)	p. 36
The Electroluminescent Light Source	p. 38
Light Source Characteristics	p. 38
Control of Light Distribution	p. 38
The Control of Lighting	p. 39
Fluorescence and Retroreflection	p. 41
Summary	p. 42
Sight	p. 45
Introduction	p. 45
The Structure of the Visual System	p. 45
The Structure of the Eye	p. 45
The Retina	p. 46
The Central Visual Pathways	p. 49
The Visual Cortex	p. 51
Colour Vision	p. 51
Continuous Adjustments of the Visual System	p. 53
Eye Movements	p. 53
Accommodation	p. 55
Adaptation	p. 55
Photopic, Scotopic, and Mesopic Vision	p. 56
Capabilities of the Visual System	p. 57
Threshold Measures	p. 57
Factors Determining Visual Threshold	p. 58
Spatial Thresholds	p. 59
Temporal Thresholds	p. 65
Colour Thresholds	p. 66
Perception of a Scene	p. 67
Visibility and Accidents	p. 70
Sight and Driving	p. 73
Summary	p. 75
Road Lighting	p. 79
Some History	p. 79
The Technology of Road Lighting	p. 80
Metrics of Road Lighting	p. 85
Road Lighting Standards	p. 91
Road Lighting Standards Used in the US	p. 91
Road Lighting Standards Used in the UK	p. 96
Similarities and Differences	p. 99
Road Lighting in Practice	p. 103
Spectral Effects	p. 110
The Benefits of Road Lighting	p. 118
Summary	p. 120
Markings, Signs, and Traffic Signals	p. 125
Introduction	p. 125
Fixed Road Markings	p. 125
Fixed Signs	p. 129
Changeable Road Markings	p. 133
Changeable Message Signs	p. 134
Traffic Signals	p. 137
Summary	p. 139
Vehicle Forward Lighting	p. 143
Introduction	p. 143
The Technology of Vehicle Forward Lighting	p. 143
Light Sources	p. 143
Optical Control	p. 144
Headlamp Structure	p. 146
The Regulation of Vehicle Forward Lighting	p. 146
Forward Lighting in North America	p. 147
Forward Lighting Elsewhere	p. 147
Similarities and Differences	p. 148
Headlamps in Practice	p. 150
Headlamps and Light Spectrum	p. 154
Glare from Headlamps	p. 159
Forms of Glare	p. 159
The Quantification of Glare	p. 161
Performance in the Presence of Glare	p. 164
Recovery from Glare	p. 165
Behaviour when Exposed to Glare	p. 167
HID and Halogen Headlamps	p. 167
Recent Innovations	p. 169
Light Sources	p. 169
Adaptive Forward Lighting	p. 170
Non-Visual Lighting	p. 171
Summary	p. 174
Vehicle Signal Lighting	p. 177
Introduction	p. 177
The Technology of Vehicle Signal Lighting	p. 177
Light Sources	p. 178
Optical Control	p. 178
Structure	p. 179
The Regulation of Vehicle Signal Lighting	p. 179
Front Position Lamps	p. 184
Rear Position Lamps	p. 184
Side Marker Lamps	p. 185
Retroreflectors	p. 185
License Plate Lamps	p. 186
Turn Lamps	p. 187
Hazard Flashers	p. 189
Stop Lamps	p. 189
Rear Fog Lamps	p. 193
Reversing Lamps	p. 193
Daytime Running Lamps	p. 195
Recent Developments	p. 198
Summary	p. 200
Vehicle Interior Lighting	p. 203
Introduction	p. 203
Functions of Interior Lighting	p. 203
Techniques of Vehicle Interior Lighting	p. 204
Door Lock and Handle Lighting	p. 204
Door Threshold Lighting	p. 204
Puddle Lighting	p. 205
Footwell Lighting	p. 205
Marker Lighting of All Controls	p. 205
Ambient Lighting	p. 205
Storage Lighting	p. 206
Courtesy Mirror Lighting	p. 206
Reading Lighting	p. 206
Boot Lighting	p. 207
Engine Compartment Lighting	p. 207
Interior Lighting Recommendations	p. 207
Disturbance to the Driver	p. 208
Design	p. 210
Summary	p. 211
The Interaction Between Road and Vehicle Lighting	p. 213
Introduction	p. 213
Effects on Visibility	p. 213
Effects on Discomfort	p. 221
Optimization	p. 224
Summary	p. 226
Special Locations	p. 229
Introduction	p. 229
Tunnels	p. 229
Pedestrian Crossings	p. 234
Railway Crossings	p. 239
Car Parks	p. 241
Rural Intersections	p. 243
Road Works	p. 246
Roads Near Docks and Airports	p. 248
Summary	p. 248
Adverse Weather	p. 253
Introduction	p. 253
Adverse Weather and Accidents	p. 253
Rain	p. 254
Snow	p. 258
Fog	p. 262
Dust and Smoke	p. 268
Summary	p. 268
Human Factors	p. 271
Introduction	p. 271
Age and Accidents	p. 271
Young Drivers	p. 274
Old Drivers	p. 275
Optical Changes in the Visual System with Age	p. 275
Neural Changes of the Visual System with Age	p. 277
Other Changes with Age	p. 277
Changes in Visual Capabilities	p. 277
Consequences for Driving	p. 281
Restrictions on Driving	p. 286
Starting Driving	p. 286
Stopping Driving	p. 289
Summary	p. 291
Constraints	p. 295
Introduction	p. 295
Assessing the Need for Road Lighting	p. 295
Costs of Road Lighting	p. 297
Energy Consumption	p. 300
Carbon Dioxide Emissions	p. 301
Waste Disposal	p. 302
Light Pollution	p. 303
Light Trespass	p. 303
Sky Glow	p. 306
Glare	p. 314
Summary	p. 315
Envisioning the Future	p. 319
Introduction	p. 319
Vehicle Forward Lighting	p. 320
Problems	p. 320
Solutions	p. 321
Vehicle Signal Lighting	p. 327
Problems	p. 327
Solutions	p. 327
Road Lighting	p. 330
Problems	p. 330
Solutions	p. 331
Markings, Signs, and Traffic Signals	p. 335
Problems	p. 335
Solutions	p. 336
Why Change?	p. 336
Summary	p. 338
References	p. 341
Index	p. 365
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