FIELD STUDY OF DRIVER VISUAL PERFORMANCE DURING RAINFALL

The research investigated the effect of rain on visibility. Specifically, the degradation of static visual acuity in terms of visual angle, detection probability, and legibility as a function of rain intensity were determined. Experiments performed during the course of the research included a field study during actual rain conditions, a simulator study using artificially produced rain, a film study using photographic techniques for the determination of visual degradation during simulated rain, and a freeway surveillance study to investigate driver behavior.