Citation

Mourant RR, Donohue RJ. J. Saf. Res. 1977; 9(1): 39-46.

Affiliation

Mourant, Ronald R.: Wayne State U

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Driver behavior in obtaining information through rearview mirrors and direct looks to the rear scene was recorded for four vehicle mirror systems. Three novice, three young but experienced, and three mature drivers drove each vehicle mirror system once on a freeway route, and once on a city route. Driver glance behavior, as well as the road scene in front of and in back of the vehicle, were recorded by television cameras. When drivers simply drove straight ahead, the amount of time spent sampling the vehicles left side mirror and a fender mounted convex mirror appeared to be a function of the amount of driving experience. Novice drivers and the young experienced drivers made fewer glances to the left outside mirror and convex mirror then did mature drivers. When gathering information prior to executing maneuvers (lane changes and merges) novice drivers made direct looks in place of using the vehicle's mirrors. Mirror glance duration was found to be independent of the amount of driving experience. It is recommended that methods be developed to teach better mirror use habits in driver education curricula.