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Forensic
Aspects of Driver Perception and Response
Paul
L. Olson and Eugene Farber
Second
edition,
6" x 9", casebound,
384 pages
2003,
Lawyers and Judges
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Table
of Contents
Working with Gene Farber, a
world-renowned expert in ergonomics and human factors, Dr.
Olson has produced a new version of this best-selling title
that he calls "a significant advance" over the
previous edition. While the basic subject matter--driver
perception and perception-response time--remains the same,
chapters have been added that cover in greater depth material
that was briefly mentioned in the first edition. Additional
chapters present completely new material on the topics of
driver eye movements and visual attention.
This
best-selling reference pulls together the available information
on two primary themes: What a driver could have (or should
have) seen, and how long it takes to respond in an emergency
situation. The book covers general principles of vision
and perception, visibility with motor vehicle headlamps
and with streetlighting, night photography, methods of evaluation,
basic perception-response situations and complicating factors.
Many cases come down
to questions of what a driver could have or should have
seen or how long it would take a driver to respond in an
emergency situation.
The book is divided
into two sections. The first, dealing with perception, consists
of several chapters covering the general principles of vision
and perception, visibility with motor vehicle head lamps,
visibility with street lighting, night photography, and
methods of evaluation. The second section, dealing with
driver perception-response time, consists of two chapters
covering basic perception-response situations and those
with complicating factors.
For
more than thirty years, Dr. Olson has authored many reports,
publications, and book chapters on human factors research
he conducted at the University of Michigan Transportation
Research Institute and at General Motors Research Laboratories.
Since 1993, Dr. Olson has served as a consultant in litigation
regarding issues concerning his original research.
Topics covered include:
- applicability of human factors,
- evaluation of visibility
in the field,
- factors that degrade visual
performance under night driving conditions,
- fundamentals of vision in
driving,
- human variability,
- perception-response time
in non-standard situations,
- problems in the use of nighttime
photography as evidence in litigation,
- visibility when driving at
night, and
- visibility with fixed lighting.
Reviews for the previous
edition:
“This is a well-written,
easy-to-understand book--a historical account of how humans
perceive certain conditions, and their reactions and responses
to the same. As investigators, we have learned to depend
strictly on the technical aspects of accidents, and the
investigation of same, i.e., the road, vehicle, product
liability, etc. Olson opens up a whole new aspect on perception
and response. It is an excellent book for the serious motor
vehicle collision investigator.”
--The Legal Investigator
“The great strength of
this book is Paul Olson's constant theme that life rarely
reflects the test conditions.... It will make a useful addition
to the library of any accident investigator who wants or
needs to go beyond determining speed."
--Science & Justice, Journal of the Forensic Science
Society 1997, Vol. 37, 3
“The material is logically
organized and easy to follow. Each chapter stands on its
own, and can be read to get an excellent overview of any
of the specific topics.... This is an excellent and easily
understood book."
--Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal, Vol. 33,
2.
Related
books:
Garriott’s Medicolegal Aspects of
Alcohol
Human Factors in Traffic Safety
Motorcycle Accident
Reconstruction and Litigation, with CD-ROM
Roadway Safety
and Tort Liability
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