More alert with Daylight+: testing the effects of additional light in the cab
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A team of researchers analysed the effects of having additional light in the cab in terms of the feeling of well-being and the performance of truck drivers. The light application Daylight+ has proven to be a component capable of increasing road safety.
Artificial daylight in the cab of the Actros makes week-long journeys during the dark winter days particularly pleasant.
Artificial daylight in the cab of the Actros makes week-long journeys during the dark winter days particularly pleasant.
They spend days or even weeks in their trucks. Long-distance haulage drivers are often subjected to poor illumination in their cab. Especially in the winter months, this darkness has an adverse effect on the well-being of drivers. A team of researchers therefore looked at the question: can a special illumination of the cab interior ensure that drivers remain more alert and fit for a longer period of time?
More light in the cab.
To this end, the team carried out research in the dark wintry climes of Finland at the beginning of the year. As part of this, the effects of additional light in the cab were evaluated. Eight test drivers simulated the average working day of a trucker over the course of two weeks.
They drove for one week in an Actros without additional illumination (the "reference truck"). In the second week, they used the Actros with Daylight+. This was equipped with three light applications which illuminate the cab with daylight-like light. First, there was the light alarm clock, which simulates the sunrise. Secondly, a light shower in which the driver can "refuel" with half an hour of artificial light before and after a journey. And thirdly, Daylight+ which functions as a supplement to daylight while driving. During the study, the acceptance of the illumination in particular, the quality of sleep and the performance of the driver were all analysed.
Eight test drivers simulated the average working day of a trucker over the course of two weeks.
In a nutshell, Daylight+ can help increase safety and comfort.
Coming back to the initial question: the study clearly demonstrated that drivers with Daylight+ in their cab performed better, were more alert and remained fitter than when driving the "reference truck" without the additional illumination. The adaptive Daylight+ system was able to increase the daily dose of light during driving by three times. Together with the light showers before and after a journey, the light dose in the cab was even more than five times as high in comparison with the normal daily dose. The trials also showed that with Daylight+, drivers' ability to react was more consistent and, in the case of monotonous journeys, there were fewer erroneous reactions. What's more, the test subjects also reported a better over feeling, noting that they felt less tired and that the cab appeared more spacious. Daylight+ might therefore be a further component in increasing road safety.
How do you stay awake in the dark months of the year?
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6 comments
It looks as if this new version is bright enough to make the interior of the cab visible to other drivers, could that be distracting to oncoming traffic? Could it make the driver feel exposed being lit up like this at night?
It looks as if this new version is bright enough to make the interior of the cab visible to other drivers, could that be distracting to oncoming traffic? Could it make the driver feel exposed being lit up like this at night?
The green light is currently only available as a relatively weak point light sources, which has no real biological effect. The Daylight + or daylight supplement is a large-scale diffused light, whose brightness adjusts to the outside light and which is switched off completely at a certain degree of darkness. The reason for this is to avoid glare or reflection in the windshield. Therefore, the driver will be lit only slightly at dusk, which certainly does not distract the oncoming traffic.
The green light is currently only available as a relatively weak point light sources, which has no real biological effect. The Daylight + or daylight supplement is a large-scale diffused light, whose brightness adjusts to the outside light and which is switched off completely at a certain degree of darkness. The reason for this is to avoid glare or reflection in the windshield. Therefore, the driver will be lit only slightly at dusk, which certainly does not distract the oncoming traffic.
Waren das "Werksfahrer" als Versuchspersonen oder Kollegen, die normalerweise tagtäglich reel mit einem Truck unterwegs sind ?
Sowas würd ich auch gerne mal persönlich ausprobieren /-testen um die Unterschiede am eigenen Leib zu erleben.
Waren das "Werksfahrer" als Versuchspersonen oder Kollegen, die normalerweise tagtäglich reel mit einem Truck unterwegs sind ?
Sowas würd ich auch gerne mal persönlich ausprobieren /-testen um die Unterschiede am eigenen Leib zu erleben.
Es waren in der Tat Werksfahrer, die aber jeden Tag mit dem Truck unterwegs sind. Da es momentan nur 2 Prototypen gibt wird es schwierig sein, diese im realen Verkehr einzusetzen.
Es waren in der Tat Werksfahrer, die aber jeden Tag mit dem Truck unterwegs sind. Da es momentan nur 2 Prototypen gibt wird es schwierig sein, diese im realen Verkehr einzusetzen.