VISUAL DETECTION OF IN-CAR WARNING LAMPS AS A FUNCTION OF THEIR POSITION

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE THE OPTIMUM POSITION OF A WARNING LAMP ON A CAR DASHBOARD. TESTS WERE CARRIED OUT WITH A PEUGEOT 405 CAR FITTED WITH FOUR FLASHING WARNING LAMPS, ONE FITTED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE OTHER THREE ALONG THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD, ONE TO THE LEFT, ONE IN FRONT AND ONE TO THE RIGHT OF THE DRIVER. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE OPTIMUM LOCATION OF A WARNING LAMP WAS AT THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE WINDSCREEN AND SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE DRIVER (VIEWING ANGLE OF 5 TO 10 DEGREES) SO THAT IT WAS NOT OBSCURED BY THE STEERING WHEEL. THE RESULTS ALSO SUGGESTED THE CONCEPT OF A "FUNCTIONAL ATTENTION FIELD". (A) FOR THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF THE CONFERENCE SEE IRRD 858984.