Title: Some vehicle design factors that influence driver visual performance

Authors: T.J. Triggs

Addresses: Department of Psychology., Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract: Human factors considerations have been central to vehicle design rule making for more than twenty years. This topic may be considered under a number of different general areas: visibility, field of view, design of controls, design of displays, anthropometric considerations, handling characteristics, ride quality and aesthetics. This paper focuses on issues involving the first two of these. The primary emphasis is given to the question of designing for the visual information that a driver receives from the outside environment. The problem of windscreen light transmission is discussed. A case is made that the requirement for high transmission levels can be justified on both experimental and theoretical grounds. This is supported by re-analysis of previously published data. Recent experimental evidence is presented showing a significant decrease in visual performance resulting from the Australian practice of using wire mesh stone guards mounted in front of the windscreen. Finally, data are presented suggesting that car-following distance is influenced by the degree of obscuration caused by the leading vehicle|s design.

Keywords: vehicle design; windscreen light transmission; stoneguard protection; visibility; driver vision.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1988.061526

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1988 Vol.9 No.4/5, pp.542 - 547

Published online: 26 May 2014 *

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