Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Evolution of Car Lighting: How did early transportation light up the night sky?
In modern cars, lights and signal devices are everywhere. From the front, rear, sides, and even the roof, the configuration of various lamps not only provides the driver with illumination of the road conditions ahead, but also allows other drivers to clearly see their driving conditions, such as turning, slowing down, or stopping. Obviously, how early forms of transportation used lights to illuminate the night sky is a history worth reviewing.
Historical BackgroundEarly road vehicles mainly used burning oil lamps as lighting equipment. Ford's first Model T car used calcium carbide lamps as headlights and oil lamps for taillights. In the first few years of its introduction, all-electric lighting was not standard. It wasn't until 1908 that dynamos were installed in car headlights, but by the 1920s they were common.
Around 1900, the first signal devices, traffic indicators, began to appear, using raised arms to indicate the direction of travel, designs that would have impressed no less than Irish actress Florence Lawrence. ) introduced this innovation of a mechanical brake signal in 1914. Although she did not apply for a patent, she contributed to the subsequent development of turn signals.
Over time, different lighting techniques were introduced. For example, the introduction of taillights and brake lights in 1915 made drivers safer at night, and by 1919, low-intensity lights were available. The introduction of sealed-bulb headlights in 1936, which became the only acceptable type of headlight in the United States by 1940, further solidified the importance of lights. Since 1940, the development of automatic-canceling turn signals has also provided for driver safety.
Standardization of light color
The colours emitted by car lights are largely standardised by existing law, first regulated in the 1949 Geneva Convention and further defined in the 1968 United Nations Vienna Convention. Under these specifications, rear-facing lights must emit red light, while side lights and all turn signals need to emit amber light. Lights facing forward must emit white light or selectively yellow light.
Technological evolution of front lighting
Front lighting includes high-beam and low-beam lamps, which can be enhanced by auxiliary lights such as fog lights or cornering lights. Low beam is designed to avoid glare to other road users at close range, while high beam provides a more focused and intense beam, ideal for use when there are no other vehicles around.
Low beam lights require a sharp asymmetric cutoff when displayed, which can effectively prevent glare from oncoming vehicles and ensure that drivers can clearly see potential hazards such as road signs and pedestrians.
Auxiliary lamps such as fog lamps are designed to provide brighter light sources in low visibility conditions, especially in fog, snow or sand storms. However, as technology advances, more and more automakers are looking to omit fog lights, prioritizing the introduction of daytime running lights and automatic high-beam systems.
Visibility and identification of lamps
Visibility devices are lights and reflectors used to increase conspicuity and visibility, usually fixed to the corners of the car. The front lights provide stationary visibility of the vehicle and can be turned on by the driver when parking at night to further enhance driving safety.
Failure to use proper lighting may result in legal liability. The laws of some countries explicitly require drivers to use fog lights correctly in low visibility conditions, and improper use is prohibited in many places.
The turn signal is also an important safety auxiliary function, which can signal the turning intention to other drivers. Correct use of the turn signal can avoid many traffic accidents. These lamps demonstrate an important part of a car's lighting system, which has become more sophisticated and precise as technology has advanced.
ConclusionThe development of car lighting is not only a technological evolution, but also a guarantee of safety. From early oil lamps to today's LED lights, the vehicle's lighting system has always played an important role in ensuring the safety of drivers and pedestrians. So, as technology continues to advance, what new lighting methods will our vehicles have in the future?
