Interactions among Light Source Luminance, Illuminance and Size on Discomfort Glare

Discomfort glare from vehicle lighting is more difficult to measure precisely than disability glare, but may have important implications for driver behavior, and in turn on driving safety. Many studies of discomfort glare have found that, as with disability glare, the illuminance at the eyes from a bright light is the primary determinant of the sensation of glare. Nonetheless, the luminance of a light source also can influence discomfort glare, especially when the source is close enough to subtend a relatively large visual angle on the order of a third of a degree or larger. In addition, interactions with the absolute illuminance from a light source are not well understood. The results of an experimental investigation of discomfort glare in terms of light source illuminance, luminance and size are presented and discussed along with implications for automotive lighting applications.