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2009 ARC-CSI Crash Conference Presentation
Evaluating Nighttime Response
Presented By: Jeff Muttart
Time: 3 hours including a break
A driver's response at night should not be much greater than those during daylight if responding to a well illuminated object. Problems typically occur when the CLIPS are inadequate. CLIPS is an acronym for the primary factors that influence detection at night and stands for Contrast, Lighting, Pattern and Size. Each of these factors will be addressed in detail. Methods for evaluating a driver's response will be addressed that will allow the attendee to objectively enumerate the difference in response between a crash driver and an average driver. Factors in each analysis will include headlight type, headlight height, beam shape, materials worn by the pedestrian (or inadequately illuminated object), movement, pattern, size and glare.
About Jeff Muttart
Jeff Muttart is a research assistant in the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts and consultant and Lecturer for the Accident Dynamics Research Center. His research has focused on driver and pedestrian response and he has authored more than 20 published studies. Mr. Muttart completed a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of Hartford, where he was awarded the Wallace Award for Excellence in research and the Graduate Research Award. He is presently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Massachusetts and has completed all course work requirements for a degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research.
Mr. Muttart is also an ACTAR-accredited Accident Reconstructionist and has attended over 50 training classes and conferences. Being highly trained in the field of human behavior, Mr. Muttart, unlike the other researchers involved in this study, sees no utility in removing two wheels and operator compartment protection from his current mode of transportation.
