Methodology to Analyze Sun Glare Impact on Highway under Prolonged Exposure

Abstract

Sun glare may impair drivers’ vision on a particular road section while driving. Recently, a new method has been developed for analyzing the problem on specific road elements. This method does not account for the prolonged glare exposure, which occurs when the sun position lies uninterruptedly within the driver’s field of vision for an extended period of time along a highway segment. In this article a new methodology for carrying out the analysis of glare problems in road segments under conditions of prolonged glare exposure is presented. The methodology can be applied to both existing roads and new road designs, either for analyzing the impact of prolonged sun glare on drivers or for the design of measures against the sun’s glare. An application to a 45-km long road segment with east-west orientation is presented.