LOOKING AHEAD AT REAR VIEW MIRRORS

A STUDY JUST COMPLETED FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY BUREAU INDICATES THAT ALL VEHICLE MIRRORS TODAY ARE INADEQUATE AND TRUCK MIRRORS ARE THE MOST INADEQUATE OF ALL. THE LARGER WEST COAST TYPE MIRRORS GIVES THE TRUCK DRIVER A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND HIM. SUPPLEMENTARY CONVEX MIRROS HELP COPE WITH THE BLIND AREAS CLOSER IN, IN FRONT, AND ALONGSIDE. THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF BRACKETRY, BRACING, AND MOUNTING TO REDUCE VIBRATION AND SHOCK. THE HIGHWAY SAFETY BUREAU WHICH HAS ALREADY ISSUED A STANDARD FOR PASSENGER CARS, IS NOW CONSIDERING AMENDMENTS EXPANDING THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXTENDING THEM TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES THAT HAVE NO BACK LIGHTS. THE PRESENT STANDARD CALLS FOR AT LEAST 20 DEGREES WIDTH OF VIEW FOR THE INSIDE MIRROR, AND A VIEW AT LEAST 8FT. WIDE 35 FT. TO THE REAR FOR THE OUTSIDE MIRROR OR MIRRORS. THE WIDTH OF REAR VIEW SUGGESTED BY A NUMBER OF STUDIES IS WIDER. HOWEVER, THE EVENTUAL GOAL FOR ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE 360 DEGREES VISION. FOR PASSENGER CARS THIS IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE. IT COULD BE ACHIEVED WITH AN OVER-THE-TOP PERISCOPE SYSTEM. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY TRACTOR TRAILERS, HAVE THE WORST VISION PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE AND SLOWER SPEED. TRANSMISSION OF IMAGES BY FIBER OPTICS MAY BECAOME POSSIBLE. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THE AMOUNT OF CURVATURE ACCEPTABLE FOR REAR VIEW VISION. FOR SOME REASON, CURVATURES ARE NOT USUALLY INDICATED ON MIRRORS OR IN CATALOGUES. AS MORE IS LEARNED ABOUT CONVEX MIRRORS, THIS INFORMATION MAY BECOME MORE IMPORTANT TO FLEET OPERATORS. CONVEXITY PROVIDES A WIDER VIEW WITH A SMALLER MIRROR. ANOTHER ANSWER MAY BE THE SCANNING MIRROR ADJUSTED BY THE DRIVER INSIDE THE CAB. PLACEMENT FOR THE BEST REAR VIEW WITHOUT OBSTRUCTING HAS BECOME A PROBLEM. VIBRATION IS ALSO A PROBLEM. IT MAY NOT AFFECT VIEW OF LARGE OBJECTS OR OTHER OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, BUT IT MAY AT CRUCIAL MOMENTS AFFECT JUDGMENT OF DISTANCE AND CLOSING SPEEDS. VIBRATION CAUSES MIRRORS TO SLIP OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND AT NIGHT IT CAUSES CONFUSING MULTI-IMAGES. GOOD SCHOOLS AND FLEET TRAINING PROGRAMS STRESS PROPER USE OF MIRRORS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF TRAINING. DRIVER TRAINERS WORKING WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL DRIVER NOTE AND GRADE THEM ON CORRECT MIRROR HABITS, DEMONSTRATING WHAT CAN AND WHAT CANNOT BE DONE WITH MIRRORS.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/23150828
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 65, No 5, PP 54-61, 13 PHOT
• Authors:
  • Aitkin, D
• Publication Date: 1970-5

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Fleet Owner
  • Publisher: Primedia Business Magazines & Media, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 1070-194X
  • Serial URL: http://www.fleetowner.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Commercial vehicles; Curvature; Driver training; Drivers; Fiber optics; Location; Mirrors; Motor vehicles; Periscopes; Rearview mirrors; Standards; Tractor trailer combinations; Truck drivers; Trucks; Vibration; Vision
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver vision; Placement; Rear view
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223246
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 6 1970 12:00AM