An Audible Automobile Back-Up Pedestrian Warning Device–Development and Evaluation

Details

• Creators:
  Brown, Ron, 1933- ; Sutherland, L. C.
• Corporate Creators:
  Wyle Research (Firm)
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Management Systems
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Vehicle components
  • Audible warning devices in vehicles
  • Equipment tests
  • Traffic safety
  • Pedestrians
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-HS-802-083 ; WR-76-12 ; NTIS-PB262806
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1524939
• Resource Type:
  Research Paper
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final report
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Abstract:
  The purpose of the study was to develop and field-test an audible back-up warning device for use on automobiles. Detailed criteria of pedestrian age and hearing ability combined with noise characteristics of typical accident sites provide the basis for selection of a warning signal format. The warning signal (a tone at 1250 Hz pulsed on for 0.1 sec and off for 0.2 sec) is generated by a small loudspeaker mounted at the rear of the vehicle. An essential element of the design, that the system sense the ambient level and adjust its output accordingly, results in a warning signal level approximately equal to the A-weighted noise level throughout the danger zone. This is comparable to a level at least 10 dB above the pedestrian's detection threshold. Evaluation of a prototype system was conducted in typical parking sites using pedestrian subjects of opportunity. Results comparing the normal situation with a test sequence using the warning signal indicated a tenfold improvement in the number of pedestrians warned of the presence of a backing vehicle. /Abstract from report summary page/
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DOT-HS-5-01185
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1160/dot_1160_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 6.85 MB]
• Collection(s):
  NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:f6c986c4531a69a29036957b90a849050553a37f5258824cb1d9656ca0f84f20