Driver Distraction

by **SammyTheSnake** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:21 am

williams wrote:Hi there!
I'm a automotive design student at coventry in my final year

Welcome, felllow coventry person

(Actually, I went to warwick uni, but don't hold it against me

)

williams wrote:Placement of controls: Away from passengers to stop fiddling!?

Or make sure that the stereo, aircon, and other non-driving controls can be taken over by a copilot to free up fingers, braincells, and eyeballs for driving...

Cheers & God bless
Sam "SammyTheSnake" Penny

by **Gareth** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:16 pm

hpcdriver wrote:Don't make things different for the sake of it - every time some manufacturer comes up with a new type of indicator or handbrake control which is just different, not better, it proves a distraction.

You know, I can't believe that the Alfa 75 'Zimmer' handbrake hasn't been copied in all subsequent cars ...

by **7db** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:59 pm

Gareth wrote:
hpcdriver wrote:Don't make things different for the sake of it - every time some manufacturer comes up with a new type of indicator or handbrake control which is just different, not better, it proves a distraction.

You know, I can't believe that the Alfa 75 'Zimmer' handbrake hasn't been copied in all subsequent cars ...

I can.

by **SammyTheSnake** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 1:02 pm

Gareth wrote:You know, I can't believe that the Alfa 75 'Zimmer' handbrake hasn't been copied in all subsequent cars ...

Google, for once, isn't my friend on this. Fancy enlightening me?

Cheers & God blesss
Sam "SammyTheSnake" Penny

by **7db** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 1:07 pm

The Alpha handbrake is a u-shaped, a bit like that on a roller suitcase. It means that the grip is transverse rather than longitudinal, unlike every other car...

by **Gareth** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 1:53 pm

SammyTheSnake wrote:Google, for once, isn't my friend on this. Fancy enlightening me?

Here are the best pictures I've found: http://www.alfa75.info/Alfa75TB-AW-03.html - bottom right - and http://www.alfa75.info/Alfa75TB-AW-04.html - top middle. On many cars, the box behind the handbrake lever has a hinged lid with a padded cover. There are some deficiences in the design, in that if you pull up the handbrake while in 2nd, 4th or reverse, you risk rapping your knuckles. Still, it is the most reasurring handbrake lever I've ever come across.

by **PeteG** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:28 pm

I'm sure I've seen that design recently... think it's on a middlish executive car, maybe a Saab 9-3?

by **nuster100** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:23 pm

Gareth wrote:You know, I can't believe that the Alfa 75 'Zimmer' handbrake hasn't been copied in all subsequent cars ...

It has, the new Renault Megane has it.

Jay

by **TripleS** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:56 pm

7db wrote:Was most impressed by the nipples on Steve's Alpina....

Hands off young man, or she might belt you round the ear 'ole! :lol:

All right all right, I'm just going.

Best wishes all,
Dave. :cool:

by **7db** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:37 pm

I often describe the best way to hold the wheel to have your fingertips around Steve's nipples. As I understand it, he favours the technique with the lighter fingertip touch. :shock:

by **BigJim** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:58 pm

Surely drivers should select a vehicle which properly suits their height and other dimensions.

Distraction would be reduced if a driver was always at ease with their surroundings?

by **Gareth** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:02 am

BigJim wrote:Surely drivers should select a vehicle which properly suits their height and other dimensions.

It's not particularly easy if a vehicle is shared between two or more drivers on a regular basis, and purchased with a limited budget, which is often the case.

Moreover for someone who is inexperienced in swapping between vehicles it can be hard to fully appreciate long term comfort issues when there is only a limited test drive.

by **Big Err** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:59 am

SammyTheSnake wrote:(Actually, I went to warwick uni, but don't hold it against me )

I'm going there tomorrow and Wednesday.

Oh woe is me.....

Eric
About to 'enjoy' 6 hours on the train to Coventry.

by **williams** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:04 pm

cheers guys, this is really good, need as much as possible..........
how do you feel about interior schemes, do you find certain colours oppressive, patterns intrusive or distracting?
what about telematics devices, theres obviously mobiles, how do you deal with them, what about adjusting controls, can you find them immediately without looking, would you like some controls that you hardly use hidden to free up space and allow you to find things easier, and then if needed them you could fold those controls back out, or similar systems!?!?

many many thanks!!

by **BigJim** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:08 pm

My mobile generally just sits on the passenger seat when im driving - I'm too tempted to look at it if it's in a windscreen holder. If its a particularily urgent call I will just put it on loudspeaker on the pass. seat.

One of the things I have found from driving my current car (hyundai matrix with the speedo in the centre of the dashboard, rather than under the steering wheel).. is that I take my eyes off the road alot less from just glancing to my left rather than looking down.

I'm not particularily worried about colour schemes, as when driving I don't tend to look at the dash, so all changing of settings is done by feel anyway.

Driver Distraction

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