Vehicle Visibility Analysis in Static Conditions

Vehicle occupant packaging and interior and exterior body design determine the overall visibility that the driver of the vehicle has. Visibility is also dependent on technological features inside and outside the passenger cell like proximity sensors and cameras etc. The focus of this research is to find and analyze the visibility percentages, blind spot angles and blind spot areas using statistical data both individually and as vehicle class put together in order to justify the need for standardization of basic visibility enhancing aids. This study has an added significance considering the Indian road transportation statistics. On an average, 16 people die every hour due to road accidents in India. The aim is to focus on cases that affect visibility in low speed driving, coasting and reversing that causes loss to public and private property. The SAE H point specifications (J4004) were used along with the considerations for human anthropometry to fabricate an H point seating position referencing tool that ensured uniformity in data collection by laser distance measurement device to targets placed on car pillars from the eye point. The data was used to determine the visibility parameters for cars individually as well as a class put together for comparisons. The experimental results pointed out a relationship of overall driver visibility to the vehicle body design which can be categorized depending on the vehicle size or the class of vehicle. The rearward visibility cases point to the growing need for adoption of visibility enhancing equipment to assist the driver.