Are Polaroid headlights the solution to reducing night-time road accidents?

[ananthu]

I have studied,as one of the uses of polaroids is, that it can be fitted in the head lights of cars and other vehicles to eliminate the glare. This will certainly act as a boon to the motorists and result in considerable reduction of road accidents during the night time.

I have also learned that Edwin Land had pioneered in this field as early as 1930's and took sincere efforts to design such polaroid sheets through his company the Polaroid corporation and tried to obtain patent for promoting it for commercial use, but only unsuccessfully.

Now with the tremendous advancement in technology, are the modern cars coming to the market fitted with any such anti glare headlights? Has any country such as US or UK made it mandatory for fitting such glasses to the headlights of automobiles to avoid accidents?

In India,whenever I ride on my bike during night hours, I used to think of such scenario, facing the annoying glare of headlights of the vehicles coming from the opposite direction, causing potential risk to the drivers.

 

[CWatters]

The filters required don't let much light through. So it's not just the headlights that are dimmed.

 

[sophiecentaur]

The filters required don't let much light through. So it's not just the headlights that are dimmed.

In principle, the idea seems very attractive but there are a number of practical difficulties.

This system would reduce effective illumination by half, even with perfect polarisers. It wouldn't be as useful in rainy conditions with a wet windscreen because of the de-polarisation.
I have a feeling that a full beam in the eyes when the polariser system wasn't actually working fully could be worse than what you get nowadays with properly dipped headlights.

 

[DrGreg]

Not only would you have to fit the polarising filters to the headlights, you'd have to fit them to windscreens too, or else make everyone wear sunglasses.

I'm not sure, but it might also make retro-reflectors not work properly?

 

[sardar]

I cannot definitively say whether polaroid headlights are the solution to reducing night-time road accidents. There are certainly benefits to using polaroid sheets in headlights to eliminate glare, but there are also potential drawbacks that need to be considered.

One of the main concerns with using polaroid headlights is the cost. While polaroid sheets may be effective in reducing glare, they can also be expensive to produce and may increase the cost of vehicles. This could make it difficult for lower-income individuals to afford vehicles with polaroid headlights, potentially creating an economic barrier to reducing road accidents.

Another factor to consider is the durability and maintenance of polaroid headlights. If the polaroid sheets become damaged or worn over time, they may not be as effective in reducing glare, and could potentially create a safety hazard. Regular maintenance and replacement of these sheets would be necessary to ensure their effectiveness.

Furthermore, it is important to note that polaroid sheets are not a foolproof solution to reducing night-time road accidents. They may reduce glare from oncoming headlights, but they may not eliminate all sources of glare, such as streetlights, reflective signs, and other vehicles without polaroid headlights.

Additionally, implementing a requirement for polaroid headlights in all vehicles may not be feasible or practical. It would require significant changes in the automotive industry and could also face opposition from car manufacturers and consumers who may not see the need for such a feature.

In conclusion, while polaroid headlights may offer some benefits in reducing glare and potentially reducing road accidents, they are not a perfect solution. Further research and consideration of potential drawbacks and limitations is necessary before determining if they should be made mandatory in vehicles. Other measures, such as improved street lighting and driver education, may also be effective in reducing night-time road accidents.