Highways
The consideration of human factors is recognised to have a major role to play in road safety and design.
The driving task is a complex one and the driving environment is continually changing. The driver is bombarded with information to respond to, especially as the ‘cockpit’ and external stimuli get more and more complex, and the driver has to make safety-critical decisions in a split second.
Addressing the physical ergonomics and human factors of the driving task can improve safety and enhance driving performance, and reduce the incidence of human error. In addition it is important to consider human factors in the design of the road management systems and control centres.
Human Engineering has completed numerous projects for the UK’s Highways Agency on VMS signals, road lighting, emergency telephones and driver workload.