EFFECT OF PASSENGER LOADING ON DRIVER'S VISIBILITY FROM AUTOMOBILES
The available data clearly indicate that passenger obstruction to driver visibility is a potentially serious safety problem. Both direct and indirect visibility from passenger vehicles has been shown to be sensitive to passenger loading. The driver's view to the sides and rear has been demonstrated to be reduced by an amount varying from 45 to 52 percent depending upon body style and rear-view mirror configuration. Systematic observation of a sample of rush-hour traffic in the Washington, D.C. area revealed that 38% of all vehicles observed had at least one passenger in addition to the driver. This is an increase from the 27% found in a 1972 survey and suggests a trend toward increased average occupancy. If the current projections of fuel scarcity and increasing fuel costs are accurate, there is every reason to believe that this trend will continue. There appears, therefore, to be ample evidence that passenger obstruction to driver visibility is a serious problem requiring further consideration and the possible development of appropriate countermeasures.
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Corporate Authors:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Driver and Pedestrian Programs, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Henderson, R L
- Publication Date: 1975-10
Media Info
- Features: Figures; Tables;
- Pagination: 13 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Drivers; Field of vision; Highway safety; Navigational obstructions; Passengers; Peak hour traffic; Peak periods; Perception; Rearview mirrors; Vehicle occupants; Visibility
- Uncontrolled Terms: Field of view
- Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception; Obstruction
- Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00131973
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
- Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/HS 801 743
- Files: TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Jun 5 1976 12:00AM