EVU XXIV 2015 – 28 Analytic determination of the hazard recognition point of a moving obstacle by the change of the visual angle

Analytic determination of the hazard
recognition point of a moving obstacle
by the change of the visual angle
Werner Gratzer
Matthias Schmidt

Abstract

After having reconstructed a traffic accident on basis of the evidence (traces, final position
and damage of the vehicle) in consideration of physical circumstances, there are two
questions which remain open: On one side, the question of cause (for example, a driving
mistake or technical failure), on the other side, if the accident could have been prevented.
Until now, assumptions were made based on plausibility and experience. Nowadays,
however, physiological sequences of the viewing process are very well examined and
extensively depicted in literature. Former attempts to apply this knowledge have failed
because only in exceptional cases closed solutions are possible; graphical methods dash
against the required level of preciseness.

The target of this paper is to discuss the question of how and when a driver can recognize
a hazard on the road. Answering this question is very important for accident
reconstructions since it may provide details of the cause and preventability of a collision.
The paper addresses human perception, especially the visual perception of motion. It tries
to establish an objective criterion of analytically locating the point where a potential
danger could have been avoided. In order to do this, one has to empirically find the lower
threshold value for the angular change of the angle of vision at a given distance, a value
that has to be reached to enable the brain to detect the relative motion of another vehicle
and, potentially, a hazard.

La lettura di questo articolo è riservata ai soli Soci EVU Italia

 

Autore	Werner Gratzer - Matthias Schmidt
Pubblicato il
Tipologia