Claim of increased night-time safety risk from in-car digital touchscreens

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Claim of increased night-time safety risk from in-car digital touchscreens

Large touch screens are an attractive and convenient part of modern cars but can glare from them contribute to night-vision problems?

Two studies by Shamir Optical, a company considered a leader in the development of specialised optical lenses for improved performance and lifestyles, say it can.

It’s an important question because a driver’s visual awareness is lower at night. They detect fewer details and that increases reaction time and the potential for accidents.

The studies by Shamir Optical (which obviously has a vested interest in this) found that night-time glare in modern cars has become such a serious issue that 48 per cent of surveyed drivers admitted it prevented them from driving at night, leaving them unable to lead normal lives and limiting their mobility because of safety fears.

Almost three-quarters of those polled (aged from 30 to 85) in Shamir’s White Paper survey admitted glare — either generated from outside the car or from digital screens in the car itself — had become a significant issue for them at night.

More than 70 per cent of drivers surveyed admitted night glare was an issue regardless of the weather conditions, and 71 per cent said they had trouble identifying road signs at night or in poor weather.

Camera IconClaims of increased night time safety risk from in-car digital touchscreens. Credit: Supplied

Shamir Optical chief executive Yagen Moshe acknowledged that while glare from the sun during the day and from *********** and road and traffic lights at night has always been an issue, drivers of modern cars are confronted with a growing problem from inside their cars.

“Dash glare is a new type of glare and, increasingly, it’s something that can’t be avoided by drivers,” he said. “Two out of five people say they no longer have a choice and are forced to engage with digital screens.”

The company followed up its White Paper with a quantitative study that conclusively proved that in-car digital screens were connected to sharp increases in glare and reflections.

This type of glare unnaturally alters pupil dilation and reduces visual performance, leading to reduced safety, visual acuity and driving confidence.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconClaims of increased night time safety risk from in-car digital touchscreens. Credit: Supplied

Shamir’s chief technical officer Zohar Katzman admitted to being stunned by the findings of the White Paper survey, and explained why glare had taken away the night from so many drivers.

“Night myopia happens when light focuses in front of the retina, instead of on it. It’s a larger problem than many people think, and it’s worse in younger drivers than older drivers,” Katzman explained.

“If someone tells you they don’t need glasses but they don’t see well at night, that is almost certainly night myopia. The pupil dilates more, and to dilate more it changes the muscles.”

The study also showed that the problem of glare was not isolated to the night, with 43 per cent of drivers insisting their eyes became tired from glare after less than two hours of driving during the day as well.

“It’s not just glare or night myopia or fatigue,” Katzman said. “The problem is the unrelenting combination of all leads to high cognitive load and this exhausts our brains and reduces our awareness when we are driving.”

Shamir Optical followed up the White Paper survey with a qualitative analysis of race and road drivers, with more than 14 million data points, and supported that with simulator driving.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Claim #increased #nighttime #safety #risk #incar #digital #touchscreens

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up