GB2371912A

GB2371912A - A vehicle driving aid

Info

Publication number: GB2371912A
Application number: GB0102490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Watts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-31
Filing date: 2001-01-31
Publication date: 2002-08-07
Also published as: GB0102490D0

Abstract

A vehicle windscreen having a vehicle driving aid which comprises a plurality of prearranged marks located on the vehicle windscreen and in the path of vision of the driver. The marks may be printed or etched on to the windscreen, or incorporated into a windscreen of laminated construction. Also disclosed is a driving aid which comprises plurality of prearranged marks adapted to be locate in the path of vision of the driver, wherein said driving aid is formed of a planar member having a means for securing it to said windscreen. The aid may be in the form of a sticker wherein said sticker is of a transparent plastics material. The markings may be arranged in a grid formation and may also comprise an array of fine lines.

Description

Vehicle driving aid The invention relates to an aid for drivers of vehicles and particularly but not exclusively to an aid to increase the road awareness of a driver of a motor vehicle.

Many accidents are caused on the roads by drivers becoming tired, especially during long distance or motorway driving where people drive for long periods of time on straight monotonous roads. When a driver is tired his awareness of hazards on the road becomes dulled. A tired driver may, for example, not realise that he is letting his vehicle drift out of the lane in which it is intended to be driven or may not be fully aware of the movement of other road users.

There is therefore a need for a driving aid to help a driver to maintain awareness of what is going on around him.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a vehicle windscreen having a vehicle driving aid which comprises a plurality of prearranged marks on the vehicle windscreen.

The marks on the windscreen serve to exaggerate the perceived relative movement of an object with respect to the vehicle being driven. The marks have the effect of keeping the bram alert subconsciously, thus increasing road awareness.

The drivers aid may be printed or etched on the vehicle windscreen or incorporated in the laminate, but it preferably comprises a member having means for adhering it to the windscreen. The aid may consist of a sticker for adhering to the windscreen.

Preferably the member is formed of a transparent plastics material on which the markings are provided.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a grid pattern for use on a driver's awareness aid; Fig. 2 shows a front view of an awareness aid when fitted to the windscreen of a vehicle.

According to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an exemplary marking pattern for use on a driver's awareness aid. The markings are arranged in a grid formation and take the form of small round dots of 1 mm in diameter and separated by 10mm.

Fig. 2 illustrates a windscreen having a driver awareness aid comprising a member formed from a rectangular sheet of transparent plastics material. The transparent plastics material has an adhesive applied on one side. The member is provided with a plurality of dots spaced in a grid pattern over the member. The member is sized to cover a portion of the driver's side of the windscreen.

In use the awareness aid is adhered to the inside of a vehicle's windscreen in the region in front of the driver, such that the dots fall in the line of sight of the driver. The positioning of the awareness aid may be arranged to suit the height of the driver.

The principle of operation of the awareness aid will now be described m detail. If you focus your eyes on a specific point in the distance, and move your head from side to side, the object also moves gently from side to side. If you then place your finger directly in front of your line of vision (keeping your eyes focused on the same specific object in the distance), and now move your head from side to side, the object will appear to move a greater distance, at a greater speed. The same principle applies when the driver looks through the awareness aid of the present invention, even when the head of the driver is still and the objects outside are either moving or appear to be moving relative to the vehicle.

In alternative embodiments any shape of marking can be used. The size, shape and spacing of the markings is chosen to provide minimum disturbance to the view of the driver whilst providing maximum road awareness. The arrangement of the markings is not limited to a grid formation. Although the markings preferably extend over an area of the windscreen in front of the driver, they could extend over the entire windscreen. The shape and size of the area covered by the markings of the awareness aid may be altered to suit a particular windscreen or the requirements of the customer.

Instead of being incorporated in a transparent adhesive material, the drivers aid may take the form of markings printed or etched on the windscreen of the vehicle or incorporated in an original equipment manufacturer laminate.

The markings may be printed in any colour, preferably a translucent colour, that is easily visible by the driver The markings could also be made from a material which changes colour when a current is passed through it, so that the visibility of the marking could be varied. In this case the current supply arrangements to the markings could take the form of a windscreen heater. Variable coloured markings would permit the driver to use the driving aid when he so desires, for example, when it is dark. The markings could also be made from a material which reacts to the ambient lighting conditions, for example a photosensitive polymer, becoming more visible when it is dark or in poor lighting conditions and less visible in the daylight. It is also envisaged that the markings may be provided by a head-up display projected onto the windscreen It will be appreciated that the awareness aid described above is for use with or adaptable for use with right and/or left hand drive vehicles. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the driving aid may be used in other vehicles such as trains or trams.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A vehicle windscreen having a vehicle driving aid which comprises a plurality of prearranged marks on the vehicle windscreen in the path of vision of the driver.
2. A windscreen according to claim 1, wherein the marks are printed or etched on the vehicle windscreen or incorporated in the laminate, when the screen is of laminated construction.
3. A drivers aid for attachment to a windscreen of a vehicle the aid comprising a plurality of prearranged marks adapted to be located in the field of vision of the driver comprising a planar member having means for securing it to the windscreen.
4. An aid according to claim 3 and comprising a sticker for adhering to the windscreen.
5. An aid according to claim 4, wherein the sticker is formed of a transparent plastics material on which the markings are provided.
6. An aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the markings are arranged in a grid formation.
7. An aid according to claim 6, wherein wherein the grid pattern takes the form of small round dots of 1mm in diameter and separated by 10mm.
8. An aid according to claim 6, wherein the grid comprises an array of fine lines in spaced parallel relationship extending vertically and/or horizontally in the installed condition.
9. A drivers aid substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.