Citation

Segui-Gomez M, Levy J, Roman H, Thompson KM, McCabe K, Graham JD. Am. J. Public Health 1999; 89(7): 1109-1111.

Affiliation

Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass. 02115-5102, USA. msegui@hsph.harvard.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10846522

PMCID

PMC1446254

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the accuracy of driver perceptions of the distance between the driver's nose and the steering wheel of the vehicle as a factor in considering driver disconnection of an airbag contained in the steering wheel for preventing injury to the driver in an accident. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 1000 drivers was done to obtain perceived and objective measurements of the distance between the driver's nose and the steering wheel of the vehicle. RESULTS: Of 234 drivers who believed that they sat within 12 inches of the steering wheel, only 8 (3%) actually did so, whereas of 658 drivers who did not believe that they sat within 12 inches of the wheel, 14 (2%) did so. Shorter drivers were more likely than taller ones to both underestimate and overestimate their seating distance. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable misperception of drivers' distance from the wheel indicates that drivers should objectively measure this distance.