The present study researches the most significant technical and medical aspects capable of affecting a motor vehicle driver's ability within the bounds of the highest safety possible and with an eye to the prevention of accidents. Therefore, the study focuses basically on aspects of passive safety. One technical aspect to be considered is that of the characteristics of the driver's seat which can afford a motorist the possibility to dampen the load on parts of his body such as the lumbar and cervical column. Based on this, some spinal column configurations have been identified. These allow a correlation of the ensuing loads on function of several seat-dictated postures. Some physical-kinematic patterns have also been studied which are typical of how vertebral and lower limbs act with respect to trunk. A simplified geometrical scheme has been indicated including the choice of a so-called H point. Among the various medical and driver's physical characteristics, the following have been studied: (1) fatigue as pertaining to some regions of the human body; (2) mental stress; (3) insecurity; (4) exhibitionism; and (5) aggressiveness.
Samenvatting