Powered two-wheeler rider eye-height determination

Abstract

Vehicle driver and powered two-wheeler (PTW) rider eye-height (EH) is one of the key factors in highway design, as it can determine sight distances, which is a key factor in geometric design. Different vehicle types and driving conditions can affect the EH. While a large number of studies have focused on the determination of passenger car and truck driver EH, only a small number of studies have attempted to determine the EH of two-wheelers. The objective of this research is to investigate the parameters that affect PTW rider EH and determine appropriate values. A multiple-camera experimental design was developed for the measurement of PTW EH. Two arteries with different characteristics (one freeway and an urban arterial) were chosen for the data collection. The collected data are analyzed and conclusions are drawn regarding the rider EH for different PTW types and classes using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey ''honest significant difference'' (HSD) method. The relation between EH and speed is specifically investigated and it is concluded that rider EH is not negatively correlated with PTW speed. Directions for future research are outlined; these include additional studies under different conditions the collection of richer data sets (e.g. including data on the riders and the PTWs).