title: Color defective drivers and safety.
abstract: At least seven million drivers in North American cannot reliably identify red and green lights. The common assumption by traffic authorities that no serious problems exist is contradicted by the data on color vision, the testimonies of color defective drivers, studies under controlled conditions, and by reliable accident statistics. Color defective drivers can be provided with the same measure of traffic light safety as for normals. Brake lights on vehicles can be made equally effective for color defectives. Suggestions are provided to help those with color defective vision to compensate for their problems.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Whillans
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D012449:Safety