THE EFFECT OF LIGHT ABSORBING MEDIA ON DRIVER VISUAL PERFORMANCE

Analytical and experimental determinations were made of the effects of windshields and filters on probability of detecting objects and on seeing distances after dark. The analytical study showed that visual degradation increases more rapidly for filter transmittances less than 79 percent. The experimental study showed that seeing distances through clear windshields are greater than those through tinted windshields; the difference is less than 15 feet. The seeing distances attained by individual observers ranged from 200 to 600 feet. The possibilities of eye damage from looking at the sun through automobile glasses were studied. Damage can be sustained through all types of glass studied. In particular, the shaded bands at the tops of windshields may increase the probability that a driver will sustain a retinal burn. Recommendations for automobile glass transmittances were made from the results of the analyses. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Brown Engineering Company, Incorporated

  Huntsville, AL  United States 
• Authors:
  • Dunn, A R
• Publication Date: 1973-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 224 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Drivers; Human factors engineering; Motor vehicles; Performance; Probability; Visibility; Visual perception; Windshields
• Old TRIS Terms: Chorioretinal burns; Nhsb; Transmittance
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00046294
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-089-2-453
• Files: NTIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 31 1973 12:00AM