The risk of having an accident on the road is 2-3 times greater on a dark night than in the daytime. The field of vision when using dipped lights extends, at best, 75 m along the shoulder of the road. Often, maximum reach is no further than 40-50 m. It is often not possible to use the headlights. Any improvement in the field of vision would quite clearly reduce the number of road accidents occurring in the dark. Headlights that do not blind oncoming traffic, would reduce the problem considerably. Such a solution is possible through the use of ultraviolet light. UV light does not blind, but when it is aimed at a fluorescent surface, a visible light is reflected. It would be ideal if all road markings and signs were fluorescent, but even in the present situation, the advantages of UV light are huge, not least for the vulnerable pedestrians and other road users, whose cotton clothing, jeans and nylon are often very fluorescent. (A)
Samenvatting