Four studies were carried out to measure disability and discomfort glare from automotive rear-view mirrors. The results of the first three studies, which were concerned with disability effects, indicated that there are significant losses in forward visibility even at glare levels associated with low-beam headlamps. The last study measured comfort levels and showed that drivers rated even moderate glare levels uncomfortable, especially if they were exposed to them for a relatively long period of time. The implications of these findings for headlamp design are discussed.
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