RE: Red dash gone

["Dan Sinclair" <sinclair@prospro.com>]

>>I just question whether red dash lighting in a
vehicle relying on bright white lights for forward vision serves that
purpose.<<

If you mean 'does the red serve to preserve your night vision despite
driving with white headlights,' the answer is yes.  Assuming you have a
white dome light, try tuning it on at night and see how much harder it is to
see outside your vehicle after a minute or so.  Do this parked if you'd
rather not tempt fate, because, again driving with a dome light on is
illegal in most states for the very reason we're discussing.

Dan Sinclair
1988 Audi 90, 68K mi.
Photo and details online at:
http://131.107.68.28/a4.org/registry/details.asp?car=761

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-quattro@coimbra.ans.net
[mailto:owner-quattro@coimbra.ans.net]On Behalf Of Matt Martinsen
Sent: Monday, March 29, 1999 2:28 PM
To: quattro@coimbra.ans.net
Subject: re: Red dash gone


This doesn't make sense.  My 200+ watts of white light illuminating the
road in front of me don't affect my night vision?  By the same thought
process as long as I don't look _at_ the sun, just the lit results, then
even daylight wouldn't affect night vision.  Yes, I am aware of being
blinded by other drivers, but that affect would be similar to staring at
the sun (don't please) briefly and then having diminished vision for a
period in normal light.  This is due to the adjustment of the pupil, not
the eye chemical that gives night vision.  I know that red light
preserves night vision, I just question whether red dash lighting in a
vehicle relying on bright white lights for forward vision serves that
purpose.  BTW, I like my red dash lights.
-Matt Martinsen
Seattle, WA




Todd Young wrote:
Michael is right, unless the entire US Army is wrong. It is a proven
fact
that red light is the least disruptive to night vision. All US military
vehicles use red gage lighting, to preserve night vision. Your
headlights
are pointing away from you, so they don't affect "your" night vision.
You
look "at" your gages, so white light glaring back at you "would" affect
your night vision. As Michael stated, other vehicle's headlights tend to
leave you slightly blind, especially if you look right at them.--
Todd Young              WAM!NET Inc.tyoung@wamnet.com
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