DOT OA:

Federal Highway Administration

Preliminary Title:

Enhanced Night Visibility—Executive Summary

Subject and Purpose:

The following document summarizes the results of a series of studies conducted under the Enhanced Night Visibility (ENV) Project. The ENV Project provided a comprehensive evaluation of evolving and proposed headlight technologies under various weather conditions. The individual studies within the overall project are documented in an 18 volume series of FHWA reports, of which the Executive Summary is Volume I. It is anticipated that the reader will select those volumes that provide information of specific interest.

The overall goal of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Visibility Research Program is enhance the safety of road users through near-term improvements of the visibility on and along the roadway. The program also promotes the advancement of new practices and technologies to improve visibility on a cost-effective basis.

This report will be of interest to headlamp designers, automobile manufacturers and consumers, third-party headlamp manufacturers, human factors engineers, and those involved in headlamp and roadway specifications.

Is this dissemination likely to be

(check one)

Highly influential scientific information

Influential scientific information

Peer Review Plan: 

1. Timing of the Review (including deferrals):

To be completed prior to 1 March 2006

2. How the Review Will Be Conducted (e.g., through a panel or individual letters): 

Individual letters.

3. Opportunities for Public Comment:

No public comment proposed.

4. Providing Public Comments to the Peer Reviewers:

N/A

5. Anticipated Number of Reviewers:

3 or fewer reviewers.

6. Primary Disciplines or Expertise Needed for Review:

Reviewers will need to have an understanding of the concepts used in human factors research, the physics of light (including propagation, transmission and reflectance) and the psycho-physical aspects of human visual response. Knowledge of current and proposed vehicle headlight systems would be beneficial.

7. Selection of Reviewers:

Reviewers will be selected by agency (NHTSA).

8. Nomination of Potential Peer Reviewers:

Nomination of reviewers by the public is not anticipated.

Contact person:

Carl K. Andersen

E-mail:

carl.andersen@fhwa.dot.gov

Phone:

(202) 493-3366