Desired clearance around a vehicle while parking or performing low speed maneuvers

Abstract

This experiment examined how close to objects (such as a wall or another vehicle) people would drive when parking. The findings will to be used as a basis for visual and/or auditory warnings provided by parking assistance systems. A total of 16 people (8 ages 18-30, 8 over age 65) served as subjects. Data were collected both for the subjects sitting in the driver’s seat of a 2004 Infinity Q45 and standing outside the vehicle (as if directing someone else to park). Data were collected for the desired clearance distance between the test vehicle and a wall (for safety concerns, the wall was moved instead of the vehicle) in ascending and descending thresholds, for 8 cardinal clock positions. The overall mean distance was 20.4 in for the 640 data points collected, with a range of 2.5 to 48.5 in. As an example of the specific results, when the wall was moved towards the driver and the subject was an observer (outside the car), the desired distances were 17.0, 18.9, 19.1, 20.3, 17.4, 18.7, 14.7, and 15.8 in for 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 and 12:00 clock positions. Using the regression method, 1 of the 2 methods developed, desired distance in inches was equal to 9.5 + 1.6 (if the position was to the side or rear) + 6.7 (if a door was to be opened) + 5.7 (if the object was approaching the car) + 4.9 (if the driver’s clearance was estimated) + .07 times the driver’s age.