REFLECTION ON THE PROBLEM OF OVERTAKING BY NIGHT

CONSIDERATIONS OPTIQUES SUR LE PROBLEME DU DEPASSEMENT EN CONDUITE NOCTURNE

It is proposed to study the problems of estimating distances and the rate of approach of vehicles at night. The stereoscopic acuity of luminous sources, particularly those collimated at infinity, with a constant approach rate and perception threshold, have been investigated. Preliminary tests, comparing values of stereoscopic visual acuity for pin-point sources in darkness with normal diurnal acuity indicate that the field of vision in darkness is quite inferior to normal. The problem is that by nocturnal vision, the driver loses all contact with his surrounding field of vision and is without the geometric perspective which makes the accurate assessment of speed and position of an oncoming vehicle possible. A study of stereoscopic acuity is also planned, assuming constant speed, to determine the perception threshold of speed. The paper was originally published in French in the proceedings of the First International Congress on Vision and Road Safety, Paris, 1975-02. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Martinez, J L
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Pagination: 2 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adaptation (Psychology); Conferences; Contrast; Drivers; Estimating; Motor vehicles; Night; Night visibility; Night vision; Passing; Passing sight distance; Perception; Speed; Traffic speed; Translations; Vehicles; Vision
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver vision
• ITRD Terms: 2208: Adaptation (psychol); 8525: Conference; 6794: Contrast (visual); 1772: Driver; 9052: Night; 2229: Perception; 5408: Speed; 8538: Translation; 1255: Vehicle; 2066: Vision
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00322078
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRRL 2837 Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 19 1981 12:00AM