Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in low-speed operation may introduce a safety issue for pedestrians. This study compared the auditory detectability of HEVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles among pedestrians who are legally blind. Independent travelers, with self-reported normal hearing, listened to binaural audio recordings of two HEVs and two ICE vehicles in three operating conditions, and two different ambient sound levels. The operating conditions include: approaching at a constant speed (6 mph); backing out at 5 mph; and slowing from 20 to 10 mph (as if to turn right). The ambient sound levels were a quiet rural (31.2 dB(A)) and a moderately noisy suburban ambient (49.8 dB(A)). Overall, participants took longer to detect HEVs (operated in electric mode). Vehicle type, ambient level, and operating condition had a significant effect on response time. Candidate countermeasures are discussed in terms of types of information provided (direction, rate of speed change), useful range of detection of vehicles by pedestrians, warning time, acceptability and barriers to implementation.
Auditory Detectability of Hybrid Electric Vehicles by Pedestrians Who Are Blind
2010
13 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Auditory Detectability of Hybrid Electric Vehicles by Blind Pedestrians
Online Contents | 2011
|Auditory Detectability of Hybrid Electric Vehicles by Blind Pedestrians
Transportation Research Record | 2011
|Acoustic Characteristics of Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Safety of Blind Pedestrians
Transportation Research Record | 2011
|Acoustic Characteristics of Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Safety of Blind Pedestrians
Online Contents | 2011
|