STUDY ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE VISIBILITY BY GEOMETRIC PATTERNS PROJECTION LIGHTING

A high percentage of pedestrian fatalities in traffic accidents occur at night. Although using high beams at night can enhance pedestrian visibility for drivers, it also presents the issue of increased glare for pedestrian. In this study, the researchers devised a geometric patterns projection lighting using projection technology, designed to reduce glare for pedestrians while enhancing the visibility of pedestrians and approaching vehicles. This study explores the effectiveness of a geometric patterns projection lighting compared to traditional Low beam and High beam headlights in enhancing pedestrian visibility during nighttime driving conditions. Conducted at Dynamic Research Inc.'s closed-course facility, the experiment involved 20 drivers who were exposed to each headlight type while performing specific tasks, including headlight noticeability, glare assessment, and pedestrian detection. The geometric patterns projection lighting, characterized by dynamic intersecting light patterns, aimed to improve both the driver’s ability to recognize pedestrians and pedestrians ability to recognize vehicle. The study used a within-subjects design, where participants experienced all three headlight conditions across multiple trials. Results showed that while High beams provided the greatest visibility distance, geometric patterns projection lighting outperformed Low beams in pedestrian detection and vehicle detection. However, High beams also resulted in the most significant discomfort glare, with geometric patterns projection lighting offering a middle ground between visibility and glare. Overall, the study demonstrates that while traditional High beams are the most effective for pedestrian detection and vehicle detection, geometric patterns projection lighting offer a promising alternative that balances visibility and glare reduction, enhancing nighttime driving safety.