Study on new regulation

concerning
Drivers field of vision

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

81th GRSG, October 9-12, 2001, Geneva

Contents
1. Background
2. Accident data
3. Blind spot on car
4. Existent national regulations concerning
Drivers field of vision
5. New regulation concerning field of vision
6. Estimation on the Accident decrease
effected by improvement of visibility

Background
Accidents that seem to be caused by the blind spot
of drivers field of vision have increased in number.
Example;
1. Accidents that young children are sacrificed when the vehicle is
started
2. Accidents caused by remodeled MPV which remodeled to raise
height

New regulation concerning drivers field of vision

is expected.

Accident data
12

younger th
years old
13years old or
older

11

3
1

0
Saloon

Multi Pur
Vehicle

Off- road

*Death in 96 98 by traffic accidents occurred in immediate forward and left of

vehicles when the vehicle is started

Blind Spot on MPV (1)

Blind spot makes young children to go out of
drivers field of vision

Blind Spot on MPV (2)

The Influence of raising heights of vehicles
on drivers field of vision

Blind spot is enlarged when vehicle height

is raised.
cm

Existent regulation
concerning drivers field of vision (1)
The rear view mirror shall enable the driver in seating position to
recognize at least part of a 30 cm diameter round column having a
height of 1 meter which is placed in the area shown in the figure.
0.3m

2m

0.3m
Column

Eye point

3m

0.3m

1) For passenger car

2) For Bus and

Truck( other than 3))

truck

Bus
Column

Column

3) For cab over type Truck

(GVW is more than 8t) etc.

Existent regulation
concerning drivers field of vision(2)
The issue of the existent
regulation is;
Eye point

The existence of Blind spot

near the vehicle caused by
higher eye point of MPV

Column

0.3m

Field of vision
(Passenger car)

New draft regulation concerning

drivers field of vision
Vehicle structure shall enable the
driver in seating position
to recognize at least part of a 30 cm
diameter round column having a
height of 1 meter which is placed in
the area shown in the figure.

Eye point

Column
0.3m

This requirement may be complied

by drivers direct vision, or indirect
vision made by rear view mirror or
other devices.

New draft field of vision

(Passenger car)

Specification of the size of object

The object of drivers recognition is specified here on the
assumption that five-years old would be the lowest age with
possibility to go out on road alone, based on sociologic analysis.
Figure of Five-years
old children

Column of 1m in height and

30cm in diameter

Calculated effect on preventing accidents occurred in the

immediately near front or near left-side of MPV
400
350
300

356
296

Before

After

249 249

250
200
150

107

100

60 accidents
be avoidable per
3 years

47

50
0

SUM

Younger than 13
yaers old

Elder than or
equal to 13
years old

*The figure is on the assumption that,

1) After the application of the new regulation, the MPV accident would occur in the same
ratio as the other passenger car accident.
2) Even after the application of the new regulation, the accident involving persons elder
than 13 years old would occur in the same ratio as the present accident, because they
could be recognized by direct vision.

Calculated effect on preventing accidents occurred in

the immediately near front or near left-side of MPV
- The reduction of fatal accidents 14
9 fatal accidents
be avoidable per
3 years

12
10
8

Immidiately near
front or near side
Immidiately near
front or near side

11

6
4
2
0

2
2

Before

After

*The figure is on the assumption that after the application of the new regulation, the MPV
accident would occur in the same ratio as the other passenger car accident.