Backing collisions: a study of drivers' eye and backing behaviour using combined rear-view camera and sensor systems.
BACKGROUND
Backing crash injures can be severe; approximately 200 of the 2,500 reported injuries of this type per year to children under the age of 15 years result in death. Technology for assisting drivers when backing has limited success in preventing backing crashes.


OBJECTIVE
Two questions are addressed: Why is the reduction in backing crashes moderate when rear-view cameras are deployed? Could rear-view cameras augment sensor systems?


METHODS
46 drivers (36 experimental, 10 control) completed 16 parking trials over 2 days (eight trials per day). Experimental participants were provided with a sensor camera system, controls were not. Three crash scenarios were introduced.


METHODS
Parking facility at UMass Amherst, USA.


METHODS
46 drivers (33 men, 13 women) average age 29 years, who were Massachusetts residents licensed within the USA for an average of 9.3 years. Interventions Vehicles equipped with a rear-view camera and sensor system-based parking aid.


METHODS
Subject's eye fixations while driving and researcher's observation of collision with objects during backing.


RESULTS
Only 20% of drivers looked at the rear-view camera before backing, and 88% of those did not crash. Of those who did not look at the rear-view camera before backing, 46% looked after the sensor warned the driver.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that drivers not only attend to an audible warning, but will look at a rear-view camera if available. Evidence suggests that when used appropriately, rear-view cameras can mitigate the occurrence of backing crashes, particularly when paired with an appropriate sensor system.
Hurwitz
David S
DS
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA. david.hurwitz@oregonstate.edu
Pradhan
Anuj
A
Fisher
Donald L
DL
Knodler
Michael A
MA
Muttart
Jeffrey W
JW
Menon
Rajiv
R
Meissner
Uwe
U
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000592:standards*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance