Visibility aspects of the driving task : foresight in driving : a theoretical note.

This note concentrates on "foresight": the need to look ahead while driving. The note deals with both the requirements for adequate "foresight" and with the means to provide the required "foresight". The note defines the "driving task" as the sequence of decision-making processes that has to be followed by a car driver. The driving task requires a considerable amount of information, for the greater part visual information. The note concentrates on improving the visual information. The note distinguishes eight different driving subtasks. Each subtask is described using the following subheadings: (1) task elements; (2) manoeuvres. Swerving and coming to an emergency stop are manoeuvres that are required to perform the subtask of coping with emergency manoeuvres; (3) "foresight"; (4) "visually critical elements" which are the elements for which the lighting must ensure their visibility. Two "visually critical elements" are: (a) road markings; and (b) lighting columns; and (5) remarks. The paper determines the required "foresight" values for three road types. These values depend on the different manoeuvres to be executed. The road types include: (i) urban roads with a traffic function; (ii) rural trunk roads (primary roads); and (iii) rural motorways