THE DRIVERS VISION AND THE MEASUREMENT OF ITS EFFICIENCY

The effect of diseases on visual acuity and their significance in the measurement of drivers performance is examined. The more prevalent diseases are cataracts and senile degeneration. The author also discusses other factors affecting driver vision and the mechanism adopted by the brain in interpreting and acting upon the information being transmitted by the eye. Recent research indicates that the process is extremely complicated and it may be some 700 M sec before the driver can take the correct action or follow the instructions of a road sign. Vision recorded as 6/12 or 20/40 is the level accepted by most countries as sufficient for holding a driving licence. Methods of measuring static and dynamic visual acuity are examined. Difficulties can be experienced in the selection of letters to be used in the static tests. Contrast sensitivity, the ability to perceive the existence of an edge between two areas of different illumination, is thought to be a significant factor in accidents at night. It is suggested that dynamic visual acuity, the ability of a driver to recognise a moving target correlates more with road accidents than any other measure of vision. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  South African Optometric Association

  P.O. Box 2059
  Pretoria,   South Africa 

  South African Optometric Association

  P.O. Box 2059
  Pretoria,   South Africa 
• Authors:
  • Humphriss, D
• Publication Date: 1983-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 31-37
• Serial:
  • South African Optometrist
  • Publisher: South African Optometric Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Contrast; Crashes; Diseases and medical conditions; Driver licenses; Driver performance; Drivers; Economic efficiency; Measurement; Medical examinations and tests; Minimization; Motion; Motor reactions; Night; Night vision; Perception; Personnel performance; Sensitivity; Standards; Traffic signs; Vision
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Minimum
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver vision
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 6794: Contrast (visual); 1772: Driver; 1550: Driving licence; 5911: Efficiency; 2134: Illness; 6136: Measurement; 2157: Medical examination; 9046: Minimum; 5483: Movement; 9052: Night; 2229: Perception; 2247: Reaction (human); 5928: Sensitivity; 2066: Vision
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00384528
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 30 1984 12:00AM