CAR SAFETY RESEARCH

Project 1: Driver response to potential loss of control situations: This will be tested by setting up on a test track situations enabling selected groups of drivers to be individually tested to ascertain: (A) their threshold of response to small disturbance of their vehicle's motion, or to small changes in their route which might not be pointed out to them; (B) their response to unexpected potential loss-of-control situations, in which they might not keep to a defined lane; (C) their threshold of panic or "freezing" to large disturbances to the motion of their vehicle (severe examples of (B) and the extent to which such responses are apparent). Project 2: "double-bottom" articulated vehicle simulations: to find design layouts which are most acceptable from a safety point of view with respect to: (A) the distribution of service and emergency of systems between the various axles; and (B) geometric layout, suspension stiffness relationships and loading restrictions. Project 3: the specification of cap tyre characteristics: to test the feasibility of describing about three broadly different types of tyre by a set of numbers, about six or seven in all representing eg tyre slip angles and lateral forces etc. At particular tyre conditions of load, state of wear, etc. Project 4: car with modified steering response: feasibility study of building into a car a system of modified steering response designed to overcome the tendency of drivers to apply excessive steering movement in response to situations which take them by surprise. (supersedes IRRD No. 600723).

• Corporate Authors:

  Cranfield Institute of Technology, England

  Cranfield MK43 OAL, Bedfordshire,   England 
• Authors:
  • Ellis, J R
  • Bull, H C
  • Read, P L
• Publication Date: 1975-3

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated vehicle control; Behavior; Drivers; Handling characteristics; Steering; Tires; Vehicle safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Articulated vehicles; Handling
• Old TRIS Terms: Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00144432
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1977 12:00AM