THE APPLICATION OF HUMAN BODY SIZE DATATO VEHICULAR DESIGN 550320

Differences in human body size can sometimes have serious implications for the efficiency and safety, as well as the comfort, of vehicle drivers. The fundamental aim of this report has been to outline methods whereby data on human body size may be systematically incorporated into vehicular design. It is believed that previous considerations of this problem have been hampered by a lack of information on the specific size range of drivers to be accommodated. The engineer cannot design adequately on the basis of an “average” man taken from the general population. Nor can he design properly if he does not know precisely how “big” or how “small” his drivers will be. In addition he must know not only the human body dimensions, but also how these measurements vary in dynamic situations.

For these reasons this report has l) presented the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of 30 pertinent body dimensions of commercial drivers and of 23 dimensions on 2,500 military drivers, 2) determined specific values for those cab dimensions definable on the basis of static human body size, and 3) described the use of the cab mockup in conjunction with subjects of known body size for determining those cab dimensions relating to dynamic human measurements.