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Are sunglasses appropriate for driving? Investigation and prototype for public testing
Artur D Loureiro1, Liliane Ventura2
1Electrical Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Sãocarlense 400, São Carlos, 13566-590, Brazil.
Biomedical Engineering Online
|April 30, 2021
Summary
Many sunglasses fail safety standards for driving. A new prototype allows the public to easily check if their sunglasses are safe for driving, ensuring better road safety.
Area of Science:
- Optometry and Vision Science
- Consumer Product Safety
- Road Safety Engineering
Background:
- Safe vision through sunglasses is crucial for driving safety.
- International standard ISO 12312-1:2013 specifies requirements for luminous transmittance and traffic signal visibility through sunglasses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the suitability of sunglasses for driving based on ISO 12312-1:2013 standards.
- To develop and validate a prototype device for public self-assessment of driving-suitable sunglasses.
Main Methods:
- Spectral transmittances of 232 sunglasses lenses were measured (380-780 nm).
- Luminous transmittance, category, and traffic signal transmittance (Q values) were calculated.
- A prototype device using LED, photodetector, and calculations was developed and validated for public use.
Main Results:
- 75% of tested sunglasses met ISO 12312-1:2013 requirements for driving suitability.
- The developed prototype demonstrated high agreement with spectrophotometric measurements in validation tests.
- 24.6% of sunglasses were found to be inappropriate for driving.
Conclusions:
- A public prototype enables easy checking of sunglasses for driving safety.
- A significant percentage of sunglasses on the market do not meet driving safety standards.
- Consumers need increased awareness and attention to sunglass certification for driving.
