EVALUATION OF DRIVER VISION

VISION ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 90% OF THE INFORMATION A DRIVER RECEIVES. DRIVER VISION IS INFLUENCED BY THE DRIVER HIMSELF - PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS; THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE - WHAT IT ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO SEE OR NOT SEE; THE DESIGN OF THE ROADWAY - DIFFERENCES IMPOSED BY INTERSTATE, RURAL AND URBAN ROADS; AND THE ENVIRONMENT - NIGHTTIME, DUSK, DAWN, OR DAYLIGHT, RAIN, SNOW, FOG, HAZE, ETC. THE WIDE VARIABILITY OF THESE FACTORS AND THEIR COMPLEX INTERACTIONS HAVE MADE THE STUDY OF DRIVER VISION REQUIREMENTS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND SUBJECT TO ENDLESS DEBATE. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES VEHICLE DESIGN FACTORS AND TESTS AFFECTING DRIVER VISION. FORWARD AND REAR VISION DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ARE DISCUSSED ALONG WITH TEST FACILITIES AND TECHNIQUES USED IN DETERMINING HOW MUCH THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE AIDS OR HINDERS DRIVER VISION. DESIGN EXAMPLES AND FUTURE REAR VISION CONSIDERATIONS ARE GIVEN; AND TEST PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING REARVIEW SYSTEM'S FIELDS OF VIEW, OBSTRUCTION TO VISION CAUSED BY BODY ARCHITECTURE, AND SEEING DISTANCES ARE DESCRIBED. INSTRUMENTATION, COMMERCIAL AND PROVING GROUND DEVELOPED, USED TO EVALUATE GLARE PRODUCING PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. /AUTHOR/