Fog is a relatively rare event, and the accidents occurring in fog constitute a small proportion of the total number of accidents. But, the percentage of fatalities and seriously injured persons, as well as the number of vehicles involved in each fog accident, are higher than average. One way to reduce the number of accidents in fog, or at least their consequences, may be to develop a Vision Enhancement System (VES), that facilitates road following and speed choice, and that helps the driver to detect obstacles and information in time to take appropriate actions. Using sensors, for the detection of what drivers are unable to see, and presenting the information in the form of a picture directly on the windscreen (a Head-Up-Display, HUD) has been suggested as one VES solution. A small but "clear" representation of the traffic environment, shown on a monitor placed on the bonnet of the car, can be used as a simple simulation of a HUD for vision enhancement. The purpose of this study was to investigate if it was possible to drive safely in heavy fog when such a simulated VES was available. Because the study focused on traffic safety, the effects on driver behaviour (in terms of speed, lateral position, reaction time and distance) and on workload were investigated, and compared to driving in clear sight and in fog without VES support. (A) For the covering abstract of the Vision in Vehicles V, Glasgow, U.K., September 9-11, 1993, see IRRD 892069.
Samenvatting