GB2361816A

GB2361816A - Vehicle warning device

Info

Publication number: GB2361816A
Application number: GB0009791A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan John Crane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-25
Filing date: 2000-04-25
Publication date: 2001-10-31
Also published as: GB0009791D0

Abstract

A vehicle warning device comprising indicating means arranged to indicate, upon activation, a warning signal, the indicating means being activatable by means which, in use, sense that an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is not depressed. The indicting means may comprise the brake lights of the associated vehicle and may be activatable by a switch located on or near the vehicle's accelerator pedal. Alternatively, the sensing means may be attachable to the vehicle's distributor or operatively connectable to, or comprising a portion of, the vehicle's throttle linkage.

Description

2361816 WARNING DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a warning device which may be installed in motor vehicles such as automobiles and to such a vehicle with a device installed therein.

It is well established that a significant proportion of road traffic accidents occur due to an insufficient gap being left between cars, a following car being unable to stop in the distance required. For example, most drivers leave an insufficient gap whilst travelling on motorways at high speeds. The vehicle in front often occludes the view of the following driver who, as a consequence, is less aware of the road and traffic conditions ahead.

Thus, as the stream of traffic decelerates, the combination of accumulated reaction times of the drivers and the ambient braking conditions act to reduce the gap between vehicles. If the initial braking is above a critical level for the road conditions and gap between vehicles, or any of the proceeding drivers' attention wavers at the critical time, the gap will become closed to the extent that a collision will result.

Such collisions cause a large number of deaths and injuries each year as well as disturbing traffic flow and consequently affecting businesses and disrupting travel planp.

The first indication to a driver following a motor vehicle that that vehicle in front is slowing down is activation of the rear brake light. These rear brake lights are activated upon depression of the brake pedal and consequently no indication is provided to the following driver that the vehicle in front is decelerating as a consequence of the driver lifting their foot from the accelerator pedal.

Furthermore, when a line of traffic is stationary it is customary to take the vehicle out of gear and use the hand brake. Activation of the hand brake does not lead to activation of the rear brake lights. Consequently, in poor weather conditions oi if a driver has ai, obstructed view, for example, when proceeding over a hump-backed bridge or around a sharp bend in the road, the driver may not notice that the vehicle in front is stationary and this may lead to a collision.

A further category of accidents occurs when traffic is waiting at a roundabout. A driver will often anticipate that the vehicle in front is going to move and move accordingly, given no contrary signal from the brake lights.

This leads to the following vehicle colliding with the vehicle in front, which for any number of reasons has not moved when anticipated.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a warning device which will reduce the number of collisions detailed above and thereby provide a safer driving environment.

A first aspect of the invention resides in a vehicle warning device comprising indicating means arranged to indicate, upon activation, a warning signal, the indicating means being activatable by means which, in use, sense that an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is not depressed.

Provided by a second aspect of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising a warning device which comprises indicating means arranged to indicate, upon activation, a warning signal, the indicating means being activatable by means which is arranged to sense that an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is not depressed.

Preferably the indicating means comprises brake lights of the associated vehicle or, alternatively or additionally, may comprise a rear windscreen light such as a central, high-level, rear windscreen light.

The sensing means may comprise a switch which is associated with but preferably located on or near the accelerator pedal. Alternatively, the sensing means may be attached to the distributor, or it may be operatively connected to, or comprise a portion of, the throttle linkage. In a further embodiment a computer management system of the vehicle may comprise the sensing means.

In a further embodiment the sensing means is arranged to activate the indicating means, in use, subsequent to an initial depression of the accelerator pedal.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of warning vehicles of a deceleration event comprising sensing that an accelerator pedal is not depressed and, in response to such sensing, activating indicating means to provide a warnin g signal.

The indicating means may comprises brake lights of the associated vehicle or, alternatively or additionally, may comprise a rear windscreen light such as a central, high-level, rear windscreen light.

In order that the invention be more fully understood it is now described with reference to the following Examples.

Example 1

A standard production vehicle was fitted with a warning device comprising a switch activated by the accelerator pedal such that when the pedal is not depressed the circuit is closed, and a high-level, rear windscreen brake light.

When the circuit is closed the high-level light is activated and when the circuit is opened the light is extinguished.

Therefore, a warning light is activated each time the driver of the vehicle removes his foot from the accelerator pedal, thereby activating a brake light before his foot has depressed the brake pedal and giving advance warning to any following vehicle that the driver intends to slow.

The following Table provides details of the relevant stopping distances and the corresponding reaction times under braking.

Table 1

Speed / ms Thinking Total Stopping Distance m (a) Distance m (b) Distance / m Distance / m 13.3 9.2 23.1 13.3 6.6 17.8 12.3 36.9 17.8 8.9 22.2 15.4 53.9 212 11.1 26.7 18.5 73.9 26.7 13.3 31.1 21.5 96.9 31.1 15.6 Distance travelled in one second.

(b) Distance travelled in half a second.

Thus, if it takes a driver one second to move his foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal, a one second reaction time, the high-level rear windscreen brake light will activate one second before depression of the brake pedal. At 13.3 ms-1 (30 mph) this affords a following driver an extra 13. 3 m in which to stop. At 3 1.1 ms-1 (70 mph), with a 0. 1 s reaction time, the following driver is afforded an extra 3.1 m in which to stop.

Example 2

A standard production motor vehicle was fitted with a warning device comprising a switch activated by the throttle linkage such that when the accelerator pedal is not depressed the circuit is closed and the brake lights of the vehicle are activated.

At 96 ms-1 (60 mph), and given a 0. 1 s reaction time, a following driver is afforded an extra 2.7 m in which to stop compared to a vehicle following one not fitted with the warning device, all other factors being equal.

The above Examples are provided to illustrate the invention and should not be taken as limiting the invention to any particular embodiment, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, any means which allow the condition of the accelerator pedal to be monitored, which is to say in a depressed state or in a non-depressed state, can be used to realise the invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle warning device comprising indicating means arranged to indicate, upon activation, a warning signal, said indicating means being activatable by means which, in use, sense that an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is not depressed.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means comprises the brake lights of the associated vehicle.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said indicating means comprises a rear windscreen light such as a central, high-level, rear windscreen light.

4. A device according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said sensing means comprises a switch.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the switch is located on or near the accelerator pedal.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said sensing means is attachable to a vehicles distributor.

7. A device according to claim 4, wherein said sensing means is operatively connectable to, or comprises a portion of, the throttle linkage.

8. A device according to claim 4, wherein a computer management system comprises said sensing means.

9. A device according any preceding claim, wherein said sensing means is arranged to activate said indicating means, in use, subsequent to an initial depression of the accelerator pedal.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a warning device which comprises indicating means arranged to indicate, upon activation, a warning signal, said indicating means being activatable by means which, in use, senses that an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is not depressed.

11. A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said indicating means comprises the brake lights.

12. A vehicle according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said indicating means comprises a rear windscreen light such as a central, high-level, rear is windscreen light.

13. A vehicle according to any of claims 10, 11 or 12, wherein said sensing means comprises a switch.

14. A vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the switch is located on or near the accelerator pedal.

15. A vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said sensing means is attached to the distributor.

16. A vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said sensing means is operatively connected to, or comprises a portion of, the throttle linkage.

17. A vehicle according to claim 13, wherein a computer management system comprises said sensing means.

18. A vehicle according to any of claims 10 to 17, wherein said sensing means is arranged to activate said indicating means subsequent to an initial depression of the accelerator pedal.

19. A method of warning vehicles of a deceleration event comprising sensing that an accelerator pedal is not depressed and, in response to such sensing, activating indicating means to provide a warning signal.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said indicating means comprises the brake lights of an associated vehicle

21. A method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein said indicating means comprises a rear windscreen light such as a central, high-level, rear windscreen light.

22. A warning device substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.

23. A vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.

24. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.