SOME NOTES ON THE USE OF VEHICLE LIGHTS

In the USA and some European countries the use of dipped headlights in areas with public street lighting (e.g. Urban areas) is legal. In Italy this practice is increasing though it is not strictly legal. Existing legislation prescribes that sidelights are required when public illumination is sufficient, and dipped headlights when public lighting is insufficient. This article discusses the problem in terms of the type of vehicle lights, type of road, driver vision, night driving conditions, vehicle speeds and traffic intensity, and makes a comparison between urban and suburban areas. Ten cases of different night driving situations are used to illustrate the study. An appendix contains extracts from technical literature concerning vehicle lights, street lighting, types of vision, lighting terminology, visibility and glare. /TRRL/