Final Report


A Safety Evaluation of UVA Vehicle Headlights

Contract No. DTFH61-95-C-00093


Prepared by:

Marsha Nitzburg
Rita Seifert
Richard Knoblauch
Dan Turner

Center for Applied Research, Inc.
10213 Forest Lake Drive
Great Falls, VA 22066

Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

 

NOTICE

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade and manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the object of the document.

 

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

FHWA-RD-99-079

2. Government Accession No. 3 Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle

A SAFETY EVALUATION OF UVA VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS

5. Report Date
6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s)

M. Nitzburg, R. Seifert, R. Knoblauch, D. Turner

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Center for Applied Research, Inc.
10213 Forest Lake Drive
Great Falls, VA 22066-3608

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

3AI2

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-95-C-00093

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Office of Safety Research, Development, and Technology
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Final Report
October 1, 1995 - December 31, 1998
14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR): Dan Turner, HRDS
The Cost/Benefit Analysis was conducted by Dr. Ted Miller and Diane Lestina of National Public Services Research Institute.

16. Abstract

The objective of this report was to determine if driver performance can be improved through the use of fluorescent roadway delineation and auxiliary ultraviolet (UVA) vehicle headlights. Additionally, cost/benefit analyses were to be conducted to determine if UVA fluorescent technology may be an economical means of increasing highway safety.

The literature review found several Swedish studies indicating sizeable increases (approximately 200%) in visibility distances for fluorescent roadway markings. Also, the literature review found no evidence of potentially harmful effects from the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the UVA headlight systems.

An extensive field study was conducted to determine the effects of UVA/fluorescent technology on visibility distances and driver behavior. Using an instrumented vehicle, no differences were found in vehicle speed, lateral placement, throttle position, steering wheel reversals, or brake applications. However, there were sizeable (up to 50%) improvements in the detection and recognition distances of a variety of roadway delineations. Even larger (300%) increases in detection distances of fluorescent objects, such as a bicycle and traffic cones, were found. Drivers' subjective ratings of UVA/fluorescent technology were very favorable.

The cost/benefit analysis indicated that very favorable cost/benefit ratios were associated with relatively modest reductions in relevant nighttime crashes and pedestrian crashes.

17. Key Words

Vehicle Headlights, Ultraviolet Lighting, Fluorescent Roadway Delineation, Pedestrian Safety

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available to the public
through the National Technical Information Service,
Springfield, VA 22161.

19. Security Classification
(of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification
(of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages


59

22. Price
Form DOT F 1700.7

Reproduction of completed page authorized

 

SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors

Approximate Conversions to SI Units
Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol
Length
in inches 25.4 millimeters mm
ft feet 0.305 meters m
yd yards 0.914 meters m
mi miles 1.61 kilometers km
Area
in2 square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm2
ft2 square feet 0.093 square meters m2
yd2 square yards 0.836 square meters m2
ac acres 0.405 hectares ha
mi2 square miles 2.59 square kilometers km2
Volume
fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters ml
gal gallons 3.785 liters l
ft3 cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3
yd3 cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3
Mass
oz ounces 28.35 grams g
lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg
T short tons (2000 lbs) 0.907 megagrams Mg
Temperature (exact)
°F Fahrenheit 5(F-32)/9 Celsius °C
  temperature or (F-32)/1.8 temperature  
Illumination
fc foot-candles 10.76 lux lx
fl foot-Lamberts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2
Force and Pressure or Stress
lbf pound-force 4.45 newtons N
psi pound-force
per square inch 		6.89 kilopascals kPa

Approximate Conversions from SI Units
Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol
Length
mm millimeters 0.039 inches in
m meters 3.28 feet ft
m meters 1.09 yards yd
km kilometers 0.621 miles mi
Area
mm2 square millimeters 0.0016 square inches in2
m2 square meters 10.764 square feet ft2
m2 square meters 1.195 square yards yd2
ha hectares 2.47 acres ac
km2 square kilometers 0.386 square miles mi2
Volume
ml milliliters 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz
l liters .264 gallons gal
m3 cubic meters 35.71 cubic feet ft3
m3 cubic meters 1.307 cubic yards yd3
Mass
g grams 0.035 ounces oz
kg kilograms 2.202 pounds lb
Mg megagrams 1.103 short tons (2000 lb) T
Temperature (exact)
°C Centigrade 1.8 C + 32 Fahrenheit °F
  temperature   temperature  
Illumination
lx lux 0.0929 foot-candles fc
cd/m2 candela/m2 0.2919 foot-Lamberts fl
Force and Pressure or Stress
N newtons 0.225 poundforce lbf
kPa kilopascals .145 pound-force
per square inch 		psi