VISIBILITY: A COUNTERPROPOSAL

Automobile manufacturers oppose the use of rooftop periscopes which may be required by a federal standard for unobstructed rear visibility in 1976 model cars, because periscopes are costly, unattractive and do not eliminate blind spots. Ford Motor Co. has written a counter proposal for a nonperiscope visibility system which suggests that some present body styles be redesigned and window pillars narrowed for improved visibility. Convex mirrors, wider interior mirrors, steptype inside mirrors, and flip mirrors made up of several flat reflecting surfaces which tilt together when the driver touches a button, enabling him to scan a wide area to the rear, are being developed to eliminate blind spots. Relocation of mirrors has also been suggested to increase rear visibility. Ford has suggested that carmakers be permitted to continue their present cyclical model change pattern(about every three or four years) and phase in the new visibility-required designs on that basis.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This abstract appeared in Highway Safety Literature, No. 9, published May 14, 1973.
• Corporate Authors:

  Motorsport Publications, Incorporated

  6675 East 26th Street
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90022
• Authors:
  • Grey, T
• Publication Date: 1973-3

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 61-65
• Serial:
  • Road Test/Dune Buggy
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Motorsport Publications, Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles by type; Convex mirrors; Periscopes; Rearview mirrors; Safety; Safety equipment; Vehicle design; Visibility
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safety features; Vehicle make
• Old TRIS Terms: Rear view
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00263118
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Literature
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 20 1974 12:00AM