Does the windshield wiper impede a driver's vision?
by A.S. Cohen, H. Fischer
International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD), Vol. 9, No. 4/5, 1988

Abstract: Does the movement of windshield wipers impede a driver's vision? To study this question drivers' eye movements were recorded with windshield wipers off and on. It was assumed that impeded vision would be manifested by a differing pattern of eye movements in the two conditions investigated. The quantitative data for the eye movements were analyzed. This consisted of, for example, the fixation times, the amplitudes of the saccadic movement (as well as its horizontal and vertical components) and the relationship between the position of the eyes and that of the head. The results suggest that operated windshield wipers do not impair vision. However, the relation between the eyes and the head is affected when the windshield wiper is on, which we suppose to be a result of a compensatory process. The results are discussed in terms of focusing attention on the road which is accompanied by binocular phenomena like suppression of one foveal image, when the two images range beyond the Panums area whereby the prevalence of the image focused on facilitates the uninterrupted information flow from the scenery ahead. The maintenance of uninterrupted relevant information flow is, we suppose, facilitated by processes that favour information being targeted at the focus of visual attention.

Online publication date: Mon, 26-May-2014

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com