Driver education teaching and testing device

• US 3,916,534 A
• Filed: 03/19/1974
• Issued: 11/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward W. Riccio
• Original Assignee: Edward W. Riccio
• Inventors: Riccio, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, Wm. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/452,542
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 35/11
• US Class Current: 434/64
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

An instructive device for use in driver education and driver improvement applications for testing perception and reaction times of a student, and for measuring the student'"'"''"'"'perception and reaction time as influenced by simulated conditions of blood alcohol concentrations; and relating the measured perception and reaction time of the student to vehicular stopping times and distances under various combinations of road surface conditions and vehicular speeds.

Claims

1. A psycho-physical teaching and testing device for driver education, comprising a first mode for testing perception characteristics of a user of the device, a second mode that is cumulative with said first mode for testing reaction characteristics, a third mode that is cumulative with said first and second modes for relating stopping characteristics thereto, and means for selectively programming variable stopping factors into said third mode, said second mode including means for simulating degrees of blood alcohol level in the user, wherein the time for reacting to a braking operation is correspondingly affected.

2. A psycho-physical teaching and testing device for driver education, comprising a first mode for testing perception characteristics of a user of the device, a second mode that is cumulative with said first mode for testing reaction characteristics, a third mode that is cumulative with said first and second modes for relating stopping characteristics thereto, and means for selectively programming variable stopping factors into said third mode, said stopping factors including a network having a plurality of settings that simulate predetermined road conditions, said second mode including means for simulating degrees of blood alcohol level in the user, wherein the time for reacting to a braking operation is correspondingly affected.

3. A psycho-physical teaching and testing device as claimed in claim 2, said stopping factors further including a network in which a plurality of pre-selected vehicle speeds are simulated.

4. A psycho-physical teaching and testing device as claimed in claim 3, a distance read-out meter communicating with said networks and registering stopping distances in accordance with time intervals established in said first and second modes and the settings in said networks.

5. A psycho-physical teaching and testing device for driver education, comprising a first mode for testing perception characteristics of a user of the device, a second mode that is cumulative with said first mode for testing reaction characteristics, a third mode that is cumulative with said first and second modes for relating stopping characteristics thereto, and means for selectively programming variable stopping factors into said third mode, said first mode including a pedal operated switch that simulates an accelerator pedal, a perception relay located in circuit with said switch and being energized upon the closing thereof, an accelerator lamp that is energized in response to energizing of said perception relay for indicating to the user that the pedal operated switch is closed, thereby simulating pressure by the driver on an automobile accelerator, a normally energized pulsing amplifier, a pulsing relay periodically energized by said pulsing amplifier at random intervals, an alert lamp located in circuit with said pulsing relay and energized in response to the energizing thereof for indicating the start of a perception cycle, and a read-out clock responsive to energizing of said pulsing relay for measuring the time required for the user to release the pedal operated switch after observing that the alert lamp has been energized.

6. A psycho-physical teaching and testing device as claimed in claim 5, said second mode including a second pedal operated switch that simulates a brake pedal, a reaction relay that is energized upon closing of the brake switch thereby deenergizing said alert lamp, and a brAke lamp that is energized in response to energizing of said reaction relay, said read-out clock being responsive to energizing of said reaction relay for measuring the time required for the user to close the brake switch after releasing the accelerator switch and that is cumulative to the time measured for releasing the accelerator switch after observing that the alert lamp has been energized.

7. A psycho-physical teaching and testing device as claimed in claim 6, a timing circuit including settings simulating blood alcohol level concentration connected in circuit to said reaction relay, the read-out clock being responsive to said timing circuit and a selected blood alcohol level concentration setting to factor in an increased time interval of the total time measured to simulate alcohol intake by the user.

8. A psycho-physical teaching and testing device as claimed in claim 7, said programming means in said third mode including a network defined by a plurality of settings that simulate a plurality of vehicle speeds and various road surface conditions, said speed and road condition settings being included in said timing circuit, wherein said read-out clock is responsive to the timing circuit and inclusion of a selected speed and/or road condition setting therein to factor in an increased time interval of the total time measured to simulate a specific speed of a vehicle and a road condition encountered.