FIELD OF VIEW DIRECTLY BEHIND LARGE TRUCKS AND BUSES

This paper summarizes the research performed during a study for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The blind area directly behind small trucks, multipurpose vehicles, large trucks, and buses was investigated to determine the rear-view information that a driver needs to reduce accident risk for various driving situations. Accident data, driver evaluation of risk and information needs, and vehicle use patterns obtained from riding with truck and bus drivers were used to determine that the blind area increases driving risk most for backing, turning (including making lane changes, mergin, and entering and exiting expressways), slowing, and stopping, in that order. Several state-of-the-art techniques have the potential to eliminate the blind area behind various vehicles. Based on a survey of manufacturer information and devices, a comparison was made of the alternative techniques by criteria such as potential effectiveness in the operational environment, cost maintainabilty, and availability. It was concluded that the use of an effective rear-vision system would be beneficial for several of the types of vehicles considered. The techniques that appear most promising are television systems, closing rate sensors (doppler radar), and proximity (acoustic) sensors. The primary recommendation was to perform selected tests and demonstrations of readily available existing systems on certain vehicles and under certain conditions to supplement the system analysis of the study with experimental data.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/562/562-009.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=FIELD+OF+VIEW+DIRECTLY+BEHIND+LARGE+TRUCKS+AND+BUSES&author=M.+Reiss&author=H.+Lunenfeld&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309024722
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Vehicle Characteristics. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Reiss, Martin L
  • Lunenfeld, Harold
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 93-105
• Monograph Title: Measures of Effectiveness, Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings, and Visibility
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 562
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Crash exposure; Data analysis; Doppler navigation; Field of vision; Mathematical analysis; Rearview mirrors; Television; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Field of view; Proximity
• Old TRIS Terms: Doppler system; Rear view
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00134872
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024722
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 4 1976 12:00AM