Analysis of the influence of aiming, on visibility distance and glare Poland 65 GRE, 29 March 2011 Dr EngTomasz Targosinski Informal document No. GRE (65th GRE, March 2011, agenda item 5(d))

Is it really needed? If yes – why and when? For what kind of lights or vehicles and why ? OBLIGATORY AUTOMATIC LEVELLING ?

lm (artificial arbitrary criterion) - Gas discharge (35W, 25W?) - LED AUTOMATIC LEVELLING AT PRESENT - DESIGN ORIENTED REQUIREMENT No relation to performance

Requirements concerning aiming (Reg mounting height) In height: not less than 500 mm and not more than 1,200 (1,500) mm above the ground.

Requirements concerning aiming (R 48 limits for aiming) Depending on the mounting height (...) the vertical inclination of the cut-off (...) shall, under all static conditions of Annex 5, remain between the h 1.0; h > 1.2 limits: between... and... initial aiming: between... and... The above limits and the initial aiming values are summarized in the diagram...

HOW IT DEPENDS ON AIMING ? VISIBILITY DISTANCE CUT-OFF on the road 75R on the road

High illumination zone responsible for road illumination

Expected aiming h=0.75m i=1.0%  75m Visibility distance

Lowest limit of aiming tolerance in.Reg.48 h=0.5m i=2.5% 20m Minimum visibility distance

200m Highest limit of aiming tolerance in Reg.48 h=1.0m i=0.5% Maximim visibility distance

REGULATORY (Reg.48) VISIBILITY DISTANCE [m]

REGULATORY VISIBILITY DISTANCE [m]

Real sizes and distances 20m 100m200m 0m Possible range of visibility distances in Reg 48.

Automatic or manual levelling in Reg. 48 allow passing beam to illuminate road at the distance from 20m to 200m PRESENT SITUATION

30 km/h m 60 km/h m 90 km/h m 110 km/h m 130 km/h m BRAKING DISTANCE

1-st CONCLUSION : If you do not know the technical details about the design of your vehicle, the safe speed for vehicles equipped with type approved passing beam (Reg. 48) is:  30 km/h (20m visibility distance)

In the Reg. 48 there should be a requirement: There should be a note in the car, located in the easily visible place: „SAFE USE OF HEADLAMP DURING NIGHTIME IN THIS VEHICLE IS RESTRICTED TO MAXIMUM SPEED OF... [30km/h]”...unless the manufacturer declares differently (In the Reg. 48 type approval ?)

FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN TECHNICAL SOLUTION, BUT RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD REST WITH THE MANUFACTURERS FREEDOM, CLEAR INFORMATION AND RESPONIBILITY FOR THE CHOICE AND USE BY VEHICLE USERS

AIMING AND ROAD ILLUMINATION IN THE REAL CONDITIONS

Reg. 48 p requirements + incorrect initial aiming + incorrect position of manual levelling device

Reg. 48 p requirements – no levelling device influence + influence of bulbs and headlamps mass production tolerances and aiming procedure

2-nd CONCLUSION: The safe speed (passing beam) for most vehicles (  80%) on the road with optimally adjusted headlamps could be :  50 km/h and even more Responsibility: vehicle manufacturer (& garage)

STATISTICS ARE OF NO USE FOR PERSONAL SAFETY IF ACCIDENT AFFECTS YOU PERSONALLY, STATISTICS HAS NO MEANING! STATISTICS ARE USEFUL FOR COST CALCULATION

Obstacles on the road / close to the road

How often do you happen to see so many obstacles on the empty road? But what then, if it happens?

MANUFACTURER FREEDOM MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY „SAFE USE OF HEADLAMP DURING NIGHTIME IN THIS VEHICLE IS RESTRICTED TO MAXIMUM SPEED OF... [30km/h]”...if manufacturer does not declare differently in Reg. 48 type approval AUTOMATIC LEVELLING ?

Most frequent situation......when passing beams are used Visibility distance is not important

IF ACCIDET AFFECTS YOU PERSONALLY STATISTICS HAS NO MEANING!

Regulations should take into account the worst case

INFLUENCE OF AIMING ON GLARE (The only subject of discussion)

Glare regulatory requirements

ILLUMINATION ON GLARE EXPOSED EYES PRESENTLY INCLUDED IN REGULATIONS 112, 98, 123

ILLUMINATION ON GLARE EXPOSED EYES (Nominal aim and mounting height) large variations

50 cm 1%D 50 cm 0.5%D 80 cm 0.5%D 80 cm 1%D 100 cm 0.5%D 100 cm 1.0%D 120 cm 2.5%D HEADLAMP „A” ILLUMINATION AT THE GLARE EXPOSED EYES for the same headlamp in height and levelling tolerances of Reg. 48

120 cm 1%D 100 cm 0.5%D 80 cm 1.0%D HEADLAMP „B” ILLUMINATION AT THE GLARE EXPOSED EYES for the same headlamp in height and levelling tolerances of Reg. 48

ILLUMINATION ON GLARE EXPOSED EYES Important area on the hand right side (Damasky)

Right curve phenomenon increased glare - reduced visibility SHORT TIME – HIGH RISK - THE WORST CASE

HIGH GLARE ILLUMINATION HIGH LEVELLING SESITIVITY HIGH SENSITIVITY glare sensitivity for aiming – headlamps of different design LOW ILLUMINATION LOW SESITIVITY

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN MANUAL LEVELLING DEVICE WILL BE INCORRECTLY USED ?

MANUAL LEVELLIND DEVICE NOT PROPERLY USED (e.g. IN INITIAL POSITION BY MAKSIMUM BACK LOAD) i=0.5% UP

EFFECTIVE GAS DISCHARGE HEADLAMP ILLUMINATION AT THE GLARE EXPOSED EYES BY INCORRECT USE OF MANUAL LEVELLING STANDARD HALOGEN HEADLAMP

Some tests showed that the use of xenon lights contribute to decreasing the number of accidents. Perhaps, it concerns obligatory use of automatic levelling and not only higher luminous flux?...

WHAT IS BETTER FOR SAFETY? 20m 200m MANUAL LEVELLING FOR ALL HEADSLAMPS? AUTOMATIC LEVELLING FOR ALL HEADLAMPS? SOMETHING ELSE?

Proposal for amendments in Reg. 48 ROAD ILLUMUNATION Modify description of initial aiming and imits Depending on the mounting height in metres (h) of the dipped ‑ beam headlamp reference axis the vertical inclination of the cut ‑ off of the dipped beam, (in the direction of the reference axis) measured on the unladen vehicles, taking in account 0.1 per cent accuracy, shall have the value of initial aiming for which the horizontal part of cut-off crosses the surface of flat horizontal road at the distance of 75 m from the headlamp. The aiming limits under all static conditions of Annex 5 should be such that the distance of crossing of vertical part of cut-off with road surface shall remains between [50m] and [100m]

PROPOSAL: - Initial aiming for 75m CUT-OFF position - Aiming tollerance for CUT-OFF position from 50m to 100m 75m50m100m

Proposal for amendments in Reg. 48 GLARE CONDITIONS Under all static conditions of Annex 5 all photometric values for glare zones required by the respective Regulations (zone III for Regulations Nos. 112 and 123, on and above line H/H2, or on and above line H/H3/H4 for Regulation No. 98) shall be not more [50 per cent] than required in the respective Regulations. The measuring conditions should be as described in relevant Regulation based at the measuring screen centre (H-V) located at height of headlamp reference axis and in vertical plane including headlamp reference axis.

GLARE CONDITIONS 25m h

CENTRE OF MEASURING SCREEN (H-V) SHOULD BE AT HEADLAMP AXIS ALL HEADLAMPS AIMED 1.0% DOWN OR MORE AUTOMATICALLY MEET THE REQUIREMENT For higher aiming the glare requirements can be checked during headlamp type approval, for maximum alloved value of aiming.

AUTOMATIC LEVELLING ( AL ) AL SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT FROM LIGHT SOURCE, LUMINOUS FLUX ETC. INSTALLING OF AL SHOULD BE LEFT TO MANUFACTURER DECISION AND SHOULD ONLY DEPEND ON FULFILLING PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS.

MANUFACTURER FREEDOM MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY MANUAL LEVELLING ? Why not? - but the driver ought to be informed about the maximum safe speed and that incorrect use of the manual levelling can cause glare and/or restrict visibility „ SAFE USE OF HEADLAMP DURING NIGHTIME IN THIS VEHICLE IS RESTRICTED TO MAXIMUM SPEED OF... [30km/h]”...if manufacturer does not declare differently during Reg. 48 type approval

CUSTOMER FREEDOM CUSTOMER CHOICE ! HIGH SPEED OR PRICE?

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION