DEVELOPMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE CONTROLS OPERABILITY

Automobile driver controls locations and operational modes and expectancies were studied in order to develop recommendations for modifying Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 101. Study phases included: (1) a field investigation of driver controls operation expectancies; (2) derivation and review of proposed rule-making recommendations; (3) analysis of current control option provisions in domestic and foreign vehicles; and (4) preparation of recommendations for modification/improvement of FMVSS No. 101 and future research standards. Results include: (1) the analysis of control operation expectancy data to support specific recommendations for improved driver-controls interface; (2) the identification of several areas for rule-making in which current information is inadequate; (3) development of a preliminary draft of a modified standard relative to FMVSS No. 101; (4) the application of human engineering principles to identification, location, operation and illumination for automotive controls; and (5) recommendations for needed research to enlarge data bank.