VISION IN VEHICLES. LITERATURE STUDY. THE INFLUENCE OF COLOURED WINDSCREENS ON THE VISION OF DRIVERS IN DARKNESS

SICHT AUS KRAFTFAHRZEUGEN. LITERATURSTUDIE. EINFLUSS GEFAERBTER SCHEIBEN AUF DIE SICHT DES FAHRZEUGFUEHRERS BEI DUNKELHEIT

The first part of this report contains a literature study on the following themes: influence of degree of light transmission, of the colouring and of surface damage of windscreens on visibility in road traffic; requirements of the field of vision of drivers; headlights in vehicles; tail lights on vehicles; driving with mesopic sight conditions; colour vision in traffic; vision as the basis of observation and orientation. The main points of the research are also summarised. In the second part of the report a study is described into the question of how the reduction in light transmission arising from colouring of the windscreen affects the visibility distance of the driver driving in darkness. Six different windscreens made of laminated safety glass were used, i.e. Clear, green and bronze coloured windscreens both in new and in used condition. The overall results showed that the transmissionreduction arising from colouring of the windscreen had a statistically significant effect on the visibility distance in darkness and twilight. With additional high level of stray light, the reduction in the visibility distance with a coloured windscreen tends to be higher than with a clear windscreen. No difference was found between the green and the bronze coloured windscreens. In the case of glare affecting the driver and large proportions of stray light, the windscreens resulted in no significant alternation in the visibility distance. The results of the study are shownin detail in tabular form. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Institute of Road Research, Germany

  Bruhlerstrasse 1, Postfach 510530
  D-5000 Cologne 51,   Germany 
• Authors:
  • Albrecht, R
  • Burow, K
  • ENGEL, G
  • Tupowa, J
• Publication Date: 1979-4

Language

• German

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 161 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bibliographies; Color; Glare; Headlamps; Heat transfer; Motor vehicles; Night; Perception; Research reports; Reviews; Tests; Transfer characteristics; Visibility; Visibility distance; Vision; Windshields
• Old TRIS Terms: Coloring
• ITRD Terms: 8518: Bibliography; 6784: Colour; 1677: Glare; 8555: Information documentation; 9052: Night; 2229: Perception; 8559: Research report; 6255: Test; 6793: Visibility distance; 2066: Vision; 1311: Windscreen (veh)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00334621
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 16 1981 12:00AM