This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Visibility Study - Methodologies and Reconstruction
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Often as part of accident reconstruction the question of visibility arises. Examples range from a simple daytime obstruction to the more complex case of nighttime human perception. With these cases, it is often necessary to analyze the visibility aspects of the accident situation and determine if a reasonably alert person would have been able to detect certain objects associated with the accident. In order to analyze the accident situation, a method for studying various visibility aspects is needed.
The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology to study visibility aspects of an accident. It will present field reconstructions of both daytime and nighttime accidents, and unique examples illustrating target detection factors and how they can lead to an increase in visibility at night. The methodologies will include still photography, video and motion pictures. While daytime visibility studies will be addressed, the main portion of this paper will concentrate on the nighttime visibility studies.
Recommended Content
| Technical Paper | Vision and Visibility in Vehicular Accident Reconstruction |
| Technical Paper | Nighttime Photography - Show It Like It Is |
Authors
Citation
Klein, E. and Stephens, G., "Visibility Study - Methodologies and Reconstruction," SAE Technical Paper 921575, 1992, https://doi.org/10.4271/921575.Also In
References
- AASHTO “Informational Guide for Roadway Lighting.” American Association of State Highway And Transportation Officials March 1976
- AASHTO “A guide for Accommodating Utilities within Highway Right-of-Way.” American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials 1971
- Baerwald, John E. “Seeing at Night.” Traffic Engineering Handbook 3rd 1965
- Baerwald, John E. “Driver Perception, Reaction, and Judgment Time.” Traffic Engineering Handbook 3rd 1965
- Birren, Faber “Vision - A Dynamic Process.” Van Nostrand Reinhold Company
- Connolly, Paul “Visual Considerations of Man, The Vehicle, and the Highway.” SAE 660164 March 1966
- Forbes, T.W. “A Method for Analysis of the Effectiveness of Highway Signs.” Bureau for Traffic Research Yale University
- Forbes, T.W. “Some Factors Affecting Driver Efficiency at Night.” Night Visibility: Highway Research Board Bulletin 255
- Gordon, Donald A. et al “The Application of Visibility Research to Roads and Highways.” Public Roads, Journal of Highway Research and Development 43 1 June 1979
- Heiss, William H. “Visibility Measures and Guidance Systems.” Highway Fog, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 171 Transportation Research Board 1978
- Henderson, Robert L. et al “Motor Vehicle Conspicuity.” SAE 830566 Crash Avoidance, SP-544 1983
- Hills, Brian L. “Vision, Visibility, and Perception in Driving.” Perception 9 1980
- Holohan, R et al “Nighttime Photography - Show It Like It Is.” SAE 890730 Motor Vehicle Accident Reconstruction: Review and Update, SP - 77 1988
- Homburger, Wolfgang S. Transportation and Traffic Engineering Handbook Institute of Transportation Engineers
- IES “Roadway Lighting.” American National Standard Practice July 8 1977
- IES “Recommended Levels of Illumination” RP-15 Illuminating Engineering Society of North America 1977
- IES “Lighting of Tunnels.” CP-13 Illuminating Engineering Society of North America April 1972
- Janoff, M. et al “Adverse Environmental Operations” Ch 11, Synthesis of Safety Research Related to Traffic Control and Roadway Elements 2 1982
- King, L. Ellis “Roadway Lighting Design.” ITE Journal Dec. 1985
- Leibowitz, H.W. et al “Nighttime Driving and Visual Degradation” SAE 820414 1982
- Marsh, C.R. “Efforts to Improve Visibility in Fog.” Night Visibility 1958 Highway Research Board Bulletin 191
- McCormick, Ernest J. “Light and Seeing.” Ch 2, Human Engineering McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 1957
- Morgan, C. T. et al “Visual Presentation of Information” Ch 2, Human Engineering Guide to Equipment Design Mc Graw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 1963
- NHTSA “Variations in Contrast Threshold.” Driver Performance Data Book DOT HS 807 126 Final Report June 1987
- NHTSA “Required Luminance/Area for Night Visibility.” Driver Performance Data Book DOT HS 807 126 Final Report June 1987
- NHTSA “Peripheral Detection of Vehicles as a Function of Intensity of Daytime Running Lights.” Driver Performance Data Book DOT HS 807 126 Final Report June 1987
- Olson, Paul L. “Visibility Problems in Nighttime Driving.” SAE 870600 SAE Congress 1987
- Olson, Paul L. Sivak Michael “Perception-Response Time to Unexpected Roadway Hazards.” Human Factors 28 1 Feb 1986
- Phillips, Erich S. et al “Vision and Visibility in Vehicular Accident Reconstruction.” SAE 900369 SAE Congress 1990
- Pritchard, B.S. et al “Optical Properties of the Atmosphere and Highway Lighting in Fog.” Night Visibility 1958 Highway Research Board Bulletin 191
- Richards, Oscar W. “Vision at Levels of Night Road Illumination.” Night Visibility Highway Research Board Bulletin 56 National Academy of Sciences - Nation Research Council 1952
- Roper, Val et al “Seeing Against Headlamp Glare.” National Technical Conference of the Illuminating Engineering Society 1951
- Rowan, Neilon J. et al. “Roadway Lighting.” Handbook of Highway Engineering 1975
- Schwab, Richard N. “Minimizing the Hazard of Restricted Visibility in Fog.” Highway Visibility Highway Research Board Special Report 134 1973
- Shinkai, Hiroaki et al “Consideration about the Relation of Headlamp Glare and Driving Visibility.” Human Engineering McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. 1957
- Sivak, M. “A review of Literature on Nighttime Comspicuity and Effects of Retro-reflectrorization” The HSRI Research Review 10 3 1979
- Strybel, Thomas Z. et al “Daylight Conspicuity of Reversible-Lane Signal Systems.” Human Factors 28 1 Feb 1986
- Transportation Research Board “Lighting, Visibility, and Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings.” Transportation Research Record 628 National Research Council National Academy of Sciences 1977
- Versace, John “State of the Art Driver Vision.” SAE 700391 International Automobile Safety Conference Compendium 1970
- Woltman, H.L. “Review of Visibility Factors in Roadway Signing.” Highway Visibility Special Report 134 Highway Research Board 1972