Passenger-Side Rear-View Mirrors: Driver Behavior and Safety

Passenger-side rear-view mirrors (PRMs) have been standard equipment on motor vehicles sold in the US for many years, although they are not required by the federal motor vehicle safety standards. Numerous studies documented both the apparent need for PRMs (to overcome visual obstructions) and their apparent value (by increasing visual access to the passenger-side rear). In addition, surveys of drivers have found a general appreciation of the importance of sampling visual information from the rear. Very little can be found, however, regarding the actual safety benefit of PRMs. A review of the research literature and several initial studies (driver observation and accident-data analysis), suggest that PRMs may not be associated with any substantial accident prevention, perhaps because they are not consistently used. Implications and research directions will be discussed. PRMs should have been a success story, having been carefully developed through research to provide important information for safe driving. The apparent failure of PRMs to reduce accident rates in practice illustrates a potential problem with designing and deploying safety features or devices without empirical assessment of normal user behavior.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01698141
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Ayres, Thomas
  • Li, Li
  • Trachtman, Doris
  • Young, Douglas
• Publication Date: 2005-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 157-162
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0169-8141

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile driving; Behavior modification; Crash rates; Rearview mirrors; Side windows; Traffic safety; Visual perception
• Uncontrolled Terms: Passenger-side mirrors; Side mirrors
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01041254
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 30 2007 1:28PM