Headlight - Taillight Analyses from Collision Research

D. M. Severy

doi:10.4271/660786

1966-02-01

Headlight - Taillight Analyses from Collision Research 660786

Light bulb filaments from motor vehicles involved in collisions provide valuable objective information on accident causation. For most moderate-to-severe collisions, at least one light bulb of the car will offer useful evidence to the investigator. Changes depicted by one bulb may be so conclusive as to allow considerable insight into the status of vehicle lights and related factors at the time of the collision.

This paper presents the classifications of automobile light bulb filament changes brought about by collision, and the significance of such changes. Filaments removed from vehicles involved in UCLA's full-scale collision experiments provide calibrated references of collision-induced changes in filaments under known “on” or “off” conditions of lights at the time of impact. For the collision investigator, procedural suggestions concerning the status of vehicle lights are also included.

SAE MOBILUS

Subscribers can view annotate, and download all of SAE's content. Learn More »

Access SAE MOBILUS »

Digital $37.00 Print $37.00

Preview Document

We also recommend:

Standards

SAE Mobilus®

Publications

News

Events

Professional Development

A World in Motion (PreK-12)

Participate with SAE

SAE Membership

Donate

Headlight - Taillight Analyses from Collision Research 660786

SAE MOBILUS