History of Lighting Test Development

This document is intended to provide some background on the evolution and development of the current SAE Standards and Recommended Practices relating to automotive lighting devices. Although varying with device, material, and intent, this paper addresses the Lighting Committee's methods for arriving at specific levels and features.

Lighting standards differ in origin, content and application from most technical standards. They involve the psycho-physiological aspects of vision as well as the physical properties of lighting devices. Since they are sometimes referenced by public regulatory bodies, it was anticipated that this paper might be helpful to those using these standards to understand the origin and factors which affected their development through the years.