TY - JOUR PY - 2004// TI - A Demonstration of a Vision Enhancement System for State Patrol Vehicles JO - Journal of intelligent transportation systems: technology, planning, and operations A1 - Alexander, Lee A1 - Ward, Nicholas J. A1 - Donath, Max A1 - Trach, Walter A1 - Shankwitz, Craig A1 - Olson, Curt A1 - Newstrom, Bryan A1 - Gorjestani, Alec A1 - Cheng, Pi-Ming SP - 169 EP - 185 VL - 8 IS - 3 N2 - In conditions of poor weather and restricted visibility, it is necessary that emergency vehicles (e.g., police, ambulance, snowplows) are still able to operate and respond to critical events in the road environment. This report presents the result of a pilot study designed to evaluate a prototype Vision Enhancement System (VES) intended for use by state patrol vehicles. For this study, visibility was artificially restricted using smoked headlight covers during nighttime driving on a closed test track. The study examined the effect of preview distance and the presence of motion cues in a Head Up Display (HUD). Driving speed and self-reported data were the dependent measures related to safety and vehicle control. Despite the lack of a valid baseline, drivers reported that they felt their driving would be safer with the system than in the (imagined) case of unassisted driving in poor visibility. As a result of the apparent improvement in safety, all officers had a positive attitude toward the system.

LA - SN - 1547-2450 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15472450490492860 ID - ref1 ER -