| Title | Quieter Cars and the Safety of Blind Pedestrians, Phase 2 : Development of Potential Specifications for Vehicle Countermeasure Sounds. |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 42888 |
| Personal Name Creator |
Hastings, Aaron; Pollard, John K.; Garay-Vega, Lisandra; Stearns, Mary (Mary D.); Guthy, Catherine |
| Source | 156p. in various pagings |
| Corporate Contributor |
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.) |
| Publisher | United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Publication Date | 20111001 |
| Language | English |
| Abstract | This project performed research to support the development of potential specifications for vehicle sounds, (i.e., audible countermeasures) to be used in vehicles while operating in electric mode in specific low speed conditions. The purpose of the synthetic vehicle sound is to alert pedestrians, including blind pedestrians, of vehicle presence and operation. The project developed various options and approaches to specify vehicle sounds that could be used to provide information at least equivalent to the cues provided by ICE vehicles, including speed change. Acoustic data from a sample of ICE vehicles was used to determine the sound levels at which synthetic vehicle sounds, developed as countermeasures, could be set. Psychoacoustic models and human-subject testing were used to explore issues of detectability, masking, and recognition of ICE-like and alternative sound countermeasures. Data were used to develop potential options that could be pursued to develop specifications for synthetic vehicle sounds. Project results indicate that vehicle detectability could potentially be met through various options including: recording(s) of actual ICE sounds; synthesized ICE-equivalent sounds; alternative, non-ICE-like sounds designed for detectability; and a hybrid of the options listed above. |
| Rosap ID | dot:9475 |
| Rosap URL | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9475 |
| TRT Terms | Blind persons; Acoustic properties; Hybrid vehicles; Plug-in hybrid vehicles; Electric vehicles; Sound level; Auditory perception; Pedestrians; Specifications; Human factors |
| General Subjects | Blind; Hybrid electric vehicles; Sound analyzers; Auditory perception; Electric vehicles; Traffic safety |
| Classification | NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Vehicle Design |
| Geographical Coverage |
United States |
| TRIS Online Accession No |
1357986 |
| Contract Number | HS59A3 |
| Report Number | DOT-VNTSC-NHTSA-11-04; DOT HS 811 496 |
| Availability | Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center |
| Resource type | Tech Report |
| URL | https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/42000/42800/42888/DOT-VNTSC-NHTSA-11-04.pdf |
| Alternative URL | http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NVS/Crash%20Avoidance/Technical%20Publications/2011/811496.pdf http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/50000/50100/50167/811496.pdf |
| Format | |
| Database | NTL Digital Repository |