Abstract
A study was performed on the human factors characteristics of a mirror traffic control aid. The mirror aid studied was installed at a “T” intersection as an attempt to improve the detection of vehicles proceeding along a curved through street. The intention of the traffic engineers was that the mirror aid be used in combination with direct viewing of these vehicles.
Three experiments were performed at the intersection. Experiment 1 was an unobtrusive observation of the use of the mirror by drivers stopping at the intersection. Experiment 2 was a door-to-door survey of drivers living in the neighborhood adjacent to the intersection. Driver profiles and attitudes toward mirror effectiveness were sought in the survey. Experiment 3 assessed the physical characteristics and perceptual and cognitive demands of the mirror aid upon drivers.
The results of these studies indicated that the mirror was little used by drivers proceeding through the intersection. Drivers found the mirror to be generally ineffective: They claimed that its images were too small to be easily seen, that cues to distance, depth, speed, and direction of motion were deceptive, and that normal climactic variations made the mirror unusable during much of the time. Physical measurements confirmed these subjective observations.
Suggestions, based on established human factors concepts, are offered for the improvement of driver performance and security at intersections where a mirror aid is considered.
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