allegro

i'm finally done with my POS research essay for my college writing course. if u are interested in reading it, i have posted it up for ya. please comment or add suggestions if you see something amiss. oh yah, and thanks to those who helped direct me when i was a little lost =) enjoy! btw, SUUUUPER LONG.... on word, it's times new roman size 12 font 14 pages. =D


Xenon High-Intensity Discharge Lights: An Exceptionally Bright Idea
On a quiet, shadowy summer evening, you casually approach an intersection in your brand new car at 45 miles per hour. You smile ear to ear as the soft summer air blows soothingly through your hair. All of a sudden, you see a small muddled shadow in the corner of your eye- you realize it is a dark-colored vehicle in the opposing left-turn lane deciding to shoot the gap. You slam the brakes, but it's too late. Your tires scream; your heart pounds. The result can range from a trip to the paint shop- or a trip to the morgue.
Ever since the introduction of the automobile, safety has been a critical issue among motorists. As of late, crumple zones, airbags, side-impact barriers, and seatbelts have drastically improved the chances of a driver not only surviving a major accident, but also walking away unharmed. But as everyone would agree, the best accident is the one that never happens. So even with these improvements, how can we increase our chances of avoiding accidents? What further safety measures are currently available that could be utilized in order to make driving safer?
One key component that could be improved is visibility. Day or night, visibility is one of the most important elements to safe driving- if you cannot see where you are going, you are not only endangering your own life but others as well. In particular, driving at night is especially dangerous. According to the Phillips Lighting Press Center, 60% of all traffic accidents take place during the hours of darkness or periods of reduced visibility in the United States (Phillips Lighting Press Center). In 1994, the Federal Office of Statistics in Germany found that the number of persons seriously injured in an accident at night not only increased by 50 percent, but the number of deaths dramatically increased by 136 percent (Automotive Engineering). A reason for this may be because objects are far more difficult to discern at night if they lie in the driver's peripheral vision since conventional headlights are focused primarily straight on. These halogen headlights simply do not provide the amount of lighting that an average driver requires in order to see more clearly during the night. According to the October 1998 edition of Automotive Engineering, the vision of a person with 20/20 is reduced to a dangerous 20/50 or worse when driving at night (Automotive Engineering Magazine). Not only that, the Phillips Lighting Press Center reports:
Research has shown that the aging of the `Baby Boomer' generation has increased the need for brighter light on driving surfaces. In fact, drivers 60 years old need up to 10 times more light than the average 20 year old. As the population has aged increased automotive lighting is needed to offset the loss of visual acuity. (Phillips Lighting Press Center)
It seems that a superior lighting system would be tremendously beneficial to aid in reducing accidents during these poorly lit situations. Fortunately, there have been remarkable steps taken in the automotive industry to increase driving safety at night with the inauguration of a lighting system known as Xenon High-Intensity Discharge lights. Because of the dangerously limited visibility at night and the high percentage of accidents that are related to low-light situations, Xenon High-Intensity Discharge lights are a valuable enhancement that all car manufacturers should incorporate into their automobiles as a standard or inexpensive optional safety feature for consumers worldwide because of their efficiency, incredible light-producing capabilities, and capacity to improve the safety of driving under poorly lit conditions.
Since their introduction to the United States, Xenon High-Intensity Discharge lights have become increasingly popular due to their efficiency. If you do not know what Xenon HID lights are, you may recall seeing them on high-end luxury cars such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. When seen in a distance, these lights are found to have a crystal-like characteristic that produces a brilliant bluish-white light. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that:
HIDs are unlike conventional halogen headlamps in that they operate more like street lamps. Instead of heating a tungsten filament, an electrical arc is created between two electrodes. This excites the Xenon gas inside the headlamp that in turn vaporizes metallic salts. These vaporized metallic salts sustain the arc and emit the light used for the headlamp's beam. (NHTSA)
As a result, Xenon HID lights are exceptionally efficient in that they produce far more light than that of halogen lights and only use a fraction of the power. According to Paul Sharke, the Associate Editor of Mechanical Engineering Magazine, "The advantage of high intensity discharge lighting is that it more than triples the output of halogen bulbs while consuming fewer watts... Feeding 33 watts into an HID headlamp yields nearly 5,200 lumens; putting 60 watts into a halogen bulb gives off a mere 1,600" (Sharke). Undoubtedly, Xenon HID lights are far superior to typical halogen lights in the aspect of efficiency. But the enhanced efficiency is only the secondary benefit of these lights; the true brilliance of this technology is its ability to impressively light up the night.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/8308/clip_image002.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/8308/clip_image003.jpg">

Figure 1. Contrast between a standard Halogen lighting and Xenon HID lighting. From www.prostreetlighting.com; accessed 16 Oct. 2001.

As seen in Figure 1, the use of Xenon HID lights provides a dramatic increase of light over the standard halogen headlamp. Where the amount of light in the "before" picture tapers off and limits visibility, the extra reach that the Xenon HID lights offer in the "after" picture extends further out and lights up a greater area to the front and sides of the car. Because the intensity of Xenon HID lights' peripheral lighting has less fade at the edges, drivers can recognize bicyclists or pedestrians at a far earlier stage and distinguish street signs and road conditions more easily.
Furthermore, Van Derlofske, the head of transportation lighting researchers at the Lighting Research Center of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, argues that the HID headlamps enable drivers to see more effectively at night than conventional tungsten-halogen lights (LRC). He and his team of researchers conducted several field experiments in which drivers reacted to objects in their field of vision while using both sorts of lighting. Their study concluded that drivers using HID lighting were far better at identifying edge-of-roadway hazards, such as animals or pedestrians. "That wider beam allows drivers to see pedestrians or animals that may not quite be on the road, but might be approaching it," John Bullough, Derlofske's colleague, said (LRC). Moreover, according to the Phillips Lighting Press Center, "various studies have shown that whiter light not only stimulates concentration but also reflects better from road surfaces and street signs. This leads the driver to feel more confident about driving in low visibility conditions and thus improves safety" (Phillips Lighting Press Center).


<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/8308/clip_image004.jpg">

Figure 2. An Audi A4's Xenon HID, lighting up the night. From www.audiworld.com; posted 15 Oct. 2001.

Safety is another key component that the implementation of Xenon HID lighting can enhance. Over the years, the well being of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike has been a vital issue among car manufacturers. In response, they have incorporated the use of ABS (anti-lock braking systems) and airbags in nearly all automobiles. Unfortunately, these very expensive technical innovations can only be employed under extreme conditions. Having your automobile equipped with an airbag may create a sense of security but it will not reduce your chances of having an accident. However, a key advantage of Xenon HID lights is that it functions as an active safety measure, one that helps prevent against accidents while driving at night, unlike an airbag that can only protect during a crash (Phillips Lighting Press Center). The Phillips Lighting Press Center states that "Better lighting acts as soon as it is switched on and allows systems such as ABS to be more effective by increasing the `safety distance'... The improved lighting will take effect immediately to provide safety everyday. If you feel safer you will be more relaxed and driving will become a more pleasant experience" (Phillips Lighting Press Center). Clearly, better lighting can contribute tremendously in preventing unnecessary accidents and saving indispensable lives due to their active safety characteristics. Positive testimonies among car owners with Xenon HID lighting are numerous. Gilbert Velasquez, the president and owner of MBE Transport Inc., stated:
As we all know [Xenon HID lights are] a hell of an improvement. The intensity of the lights make the road signs clear as day. Since the lighting isn't as yellow, the Xenon lighting causes more of a contrast between the objects that are being lit up. The improvement from regular lighting to the HID Xenons was like none I've ever seen before. (Velasquez)
However, even with the awesome benefits and positive testimonies concerning this new technology, there are still many individuals who feel that Xenon High-Intensity Discharge lighting should not go mainstream because they produce an incredible amount of excessive glare, cost impractical amounts of money, and may actually pose more of a safety risk contrary to what is advertised.
The main argument and complaint about Xenon HID lights is the fact that though an incredible amount of bright white light is produced, there is a tremendous increase of glare as well. This issue has become more and more pertinent over the last two years, resulting with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration receiving numerous complaints regarding these lights, primarily concerning the excessive glare that the lights produce (NHTSA). In an interview performed by USA Today's James R. Healey, Rebecca Boudreau of Aliso Viejo, California, protests: "I don't like them. They bother my eyes. I think that they're bad for [others who are] driving" (qtd in Healey). It is easily understood that the glaring effects of Xenon HID lights can quite possibly increase the chance of accidents at night.
The second issue that has kept the standardization of these lights onto all cars difficult is the fact that they are very expensive. According to the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, Xenon HID lights "are a $500 to $1,200 option on new cars such as Cadillacs, Porches, Audis, Mercedes, Lexuses, and BMWs" (Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce), where the typical halogen bulb can go anywhere from a low $20 to measly $10 a pair (Lightbulbdirect.com). In other words, Xenon HID lights can be up to 120 times more expensive than standard halogen lighting. Not only that, they can be costly to repair. According to James R. Healey of USA Today, automakers have begun using composite halogen headlights that have a clean, one-piece, slick design. "Add HID lights' expensive components to a fender-bender and stand back," says Healey, "Somebody's going to have to write an enormous check. If it's your insurance company, expect it to eventually show up in you rates" (Healey).
Lastly, it has been claimed that Xenon HID lights may actually be a safety hazard as opposed to a safety feature for drivers and passengers. Many motorists contend that driving in a car that is equipped with these lights may aid the one driver who has them but will ultimately impair other driver's visions as well, especially in bad weather. The NHTSA states that "during inclement weather, when the road surface is wet, the additional volume of light can result in higher levels of light reflected off the road surface into other driver's eyes" (NHTSA). Not only that, the glare that these lights generate may even pose a psychological danger among drivers. The NHTSA reports: "...glare, whether at the levels that are annoying or disabling, increases the stress for drivers. Increasing stress for drivers in a more dangerous nighttime environment has adverse safety consequences, even if those consequences cannot be precisely quantified" (NHTSA). With claims such as these, Xenon HID lights may indeed seem like a hazard as it could translate into unsafe and risky driving.
Of course there must be motives behind why these lights are such nuisances to many. In order to better understand the reasons why this high-tech lighting system has received so many complaints and has not gone mainstream, we must investigate how the unique and mesmerizing effects of these intense lights have caused drivers to stare directly at them, which in turn has caused those motorists to complain about their brightness, and which ultimately has made Xenon HID lights a critical and controversial safety issue among the general public.
The first and foremost apparent cause regarding the complaints of Xenon HID lights is the fact that they are unique in comparison to halogen lights, particularly in color. As you may know already from personal experiences on the road, Xenon HID lights look different from standard halogen lights- they appear to be very white, almost blue. If seen in a distance, these lights are almost "crystal-like" in that they slightly sparkle or twinkle like a crystal. Though they may look aesthetically appealing, Xenon HID lights have caused a phenomenon similar to that of the halogen lights of the early 80's. When halogen headlamps were introduced for the first time, there were numerous glare complaints even though the first halogens used were actually very similar in lighting performance to the standard non-halogens headlamps. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association found that many drivers are "attracted to headlamps that are different colors than would normally be seen. As such, the drivers may look directly at oncoming headlamps during driving to see the unfamiliar item" (NHTSA). This is clearly something that may be the cause of complaints that the agency has been receiving regarding Xenon HID lights. The agency further explains that: "the only marked difference was the color of the halogen headlamps. If this is the case now, one would expect glare complaints about HIDs to stop when drivers become familiar with the HID color" (NHTSA).
The second apparent cause for concern with Xenon HID lights is the fact that they are exceptionally bright. The Phillips Lighting Company explains, "Xenon Lamps utilize high intensity discharge lighting to achieve levels of light 2 to 3 times that of existing halogen headlights" (Phillips Lighting Press Center). The intense lighting that this technology produces can have both beneficial and detrimental consequences for motorists. Greater lighting can be tremendously beneficial in order to increase reaction time and aid in reducing accidents during poorly lit situations through its enhancing visibility characteristics (NHTSA). However, greater lighting can also be tremendously detrimental in that an incredible amount of intense light can possibly be shined onto oncoming motorists which in turn may increase accidents in low-light environments. This is where critics of Xenon HID lights have complained emphatically. An extremely intense light may indeed help the driver who has them equipped on their car, but the light can also bother and distract other motorists from driving safely. As seen in figure 3, Xenon High-Intensity Discharge lights are far brighter and whiter than ordinary halogen bulbs. The critical point is that this brighter section of the color spectrum is where our eyes are most susceptible. USA Today's James R. Healey explains:
HID headlights pour out more illumination than conventional tungsten-halogen headlights do... And they do it at the blue end of the color spectrum where the eye's sensitive at night. The result: Oncoming drivers are often surprised by the light and frequently say it hurts. (Healey)

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Figure 3. Spectrum of light depicting unique color and brightness of Xenon HID lights. From http://www.hamsar.com/; accessed 14 Nov. 2001.

So how can we resolve the numerous dilemmas related to Xenon High-Intensity Discharge Lights? The main objectives is to standardize this lighting system into all automobiles in order to help ameliorate the problem of limited visibility at night and ultimately save invaluable lives by reducing the number of accidents that occur after dusk. This goal can be realized if the following actions are taken. Since the main complaint and problem of Xenon HID lighting is with glare, we must first tackle this issue by informing and promoting the great safety benefits that these lights provide for safer driving to the public via organizations such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), NHTSA, and other groups associated with driving. Secondly, in order to deal with the unique and mesmerizing color issue, more automakers must strive to standardize Xenon HID lighting on their automobiles or at least make them available as an option so that gradually with more of these lights on the road, the public will get used to the distinctive color. Finally, prudent enforcement of the laws and policies pertaining to Xenon HID lights, such as the automatic beam-leveling system and self-cleaning functions that were added to the housing of the Xenon headlights in order to satisfy the DOT and SAE requirements, must be improved.
Although these solutions would indeed be helpful in ameliorating the problems associated with Xenon HID lights, there are, however, two possible difficulties that may have to be dealt with along the road. For example, though they were conducted thoroughly by reliable sources, there seems to be a lack of research and data, particularly concerning the number of accidents of Xenon-equipped automobiles to number of accidents of Halogen-equipped automobiles. Furthermore, the complaints regarding the glare problem with these lights will probably continue to be an issue among the public even if they are standardized on all vehicles since Xenon HID lights have exceptional intensity that may cause people to feel overly irritated.
Despite these obstacles, the benefits that Xenon HID lights bring outweigh their disadvantages, and the motoring public must be informed of these advantages. Many motorists argue that with the brightness of these lights, the probability of accidents at night rises due to their almost "blinding" characteristics. Though some drivers may perceive these lights as dangerous, Michael Flannagan, a research scientist at the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute, finds that these lights are not blinding at all. Spending nearly 10 years in supervising the problem of glare, Flannagan reports:
Discomfort glare is not always related to disability glare. Our result is about discomfort... We think there is some problem with glare, but we think it's a good trade-off. Our overall opinion of HIDs is that they are good things. HID lamps can be, and normally are, better for seeing. (qtd in Healey)
In addition, Flannagan's colleague, John Van Derlofske concluded that "the problem with glare should be weighed against the improved visual benefits" (Lighting Research Center).
The key point that needs to be understood is that there are no cases in which Xenon HID lights have caused accidents in any way, including from their glare. The NHTSA knows of no injuries or deaths caused by these lights. The organization finds that:
Although the agency has seen advertising and received many complaints claiming that the light produced by HIDs is twice or three times as bright as that which is produced by halogen lamps, laboratory measurement, made by various parties, do not support these claims. (NHTSA)
Since Xenon HID lighting has caused no accidents or injuries and the benefits of this lighting system have been quantified, it is imperative that organizations such as the NHTSA, DMV, or other agencies associated with driving inform the public of this knowledge by utilizing its resources and publicizing these reports.
Furthermore, as explained by the NHTSA, the occurrences of motorists staring at Xenon HID lighting due to their color distinction suggest a simple, yet long-term solution. It has been theorized that as soon as Americans become familiar with the HID color, glare complaints will stop (NHTSA). Therefore, more automakers must begin standardizing or at least offering Xenon HID lighting as an option on their vehicles in order to create better awareness of these lights among the public. Additionally, if more of the public would purchase this technology with their vehicles, the expensive prices of Xenon HID lighting would eventually come down. This trend has been noticed in one of the most popular additions to most vehicles in the past ten years- the anti-lock brake system, or ABS. Eric Smith, senior instructor for Wagner Brakes at its World Training Center in St. Louis, explains that ABS can be a costly investment that ranges from $800 to even $1200 (Car Care Council). However with the higher demand for this technology, automakers have standardized ABS onto most of their automobiles. The Car Care Council has found that
With more than 80 percent of the vehicles sold in the U.S. at least having ABS as an option, it's probably harder to find a car without ABS on the showroom floor than one with. Virtually all new light trucks and sport utility vehicles are equipped with at least rear-wheel ABS and it's becoming more common to see them equipped with four-wheel ABS. (qtd. in Woman Motorist)
Finally, prudent enforcement of the policies pertaining to Xenon HID lights must be improved. In order to safely utilize the extra illumination that this technology provides, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) have implemented an automatic beam-leveling system and self-cleaning properties to the housing of the Xenon HID headlights (DOT and SAE). When accelerating, weight distribution in a car tends to shift towards the back causing the headlights to angle upwards, directing the intense glare towards other motorists. In addition, when a car is braking, the weight is transferred towards the front, which in turn reduces lighting for the driver. Here, the automatic beam-leveling system would adjust the angle of the beam by moving up or down in order to counter the effects of weight transfer. Also, Xenon HID headlights have self-cleaning properties that automatically dispose of any outside particles that may have gotten into the headlight so that dirt and other debris cannot possibly reflect and project the light improperly. But most importantly, the angle at which these lights are set must be carefully enforced. In a study conducted at the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute, vertical aim of headlights was found to be "overwhelmingly the most important factor in influencing the performance of low-beam headlamps" (Mechanical Engineering Magazine). Michael Flannagan, the senior scientist of this study, concluded it best: "The message for car owners is you really ought to aim your headlamps" (Mechanical Engineering Magazine).
It is time for the public, namely those who drive at night, to take this safety proposal intended for increasing nighttime visibility as a priority on their agendas. According to the Car Care Council, having brilliant lighting is the most critical aspect of driving safely at night: "With the number of people in the world driving today, your lights are critical to the safety and visibility you need while driving. You need to see everything ahead of you clearly and accurately to react as quickly as possible and to avoid potentially dangerous encounters" (Care Car Council). However, it seems that as long as the general public is not informed of the incredible benefits of Xenon High-Intensity Discharge lights, the nighttime visibility problems will persist and ultimately more lives will be lost due to accidents during the hazardous, low-light driving environment. Furthermore, drivers must become familiar with the unique color of these lights in order to better understand that it is not primarily the brightness that has been causing people to complain but the fact that motorists stare directly at the lights for an extended period of time that in turn causes irritation to the eyes. Undoubtedly, this is a vital safety concern; and with millions of drivers on the road nightly, Xenon HID lights and its issues are becoming more of a concern that needs to be resolved.

Yammy 2.8

5 out of 6!

S4,TT,530i,Chevy1500

You da man. Extra points for writing a paper on headlights!

S4MadMan

HIDs rule. Forget all the naysayers. 8-)

Kirath ¾-B0§t0n

Whooa lots of words. Xenons kick ****

Mike@VAST

good job. I'm sure you'll get a nice grade for it too

vrsix

It's Mercedes-Benz, not Mercedes.. other than that.. I like it!