Citation

Jamson SL, Jamson AH. Int. J. Veh. Des. 2007; 45(3): 397-410.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Inderscience Publishers)

DOI

10.1504/IJVD.2007.014912

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Active pedestrian protection systems can mitigate the outcome of a collision. This study investigated whether an active bonnet could have any negative impacts on the driver as, when deployed, it partially occludes the driver's visual field. When the bonnet was deployed, drivers decreased their speed. On straights, drivers maintained their speed and lateral control for up to three seconds of partial occlusion. For curved sections, this reduced to two seconds. When occlusion was lifted, drivers tended to then deviate in lane – a possible 'panic' effect. As drivers became more familiar with the system, they applied the brakes less.