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Smoother dashboard typefaces might enhance driver safety

GasBuddy Blog -- Sometimes when you're driving along and you see some school kids trying to attract you to bring your car to the makeshift car wash they've assembled to raise money for gymnastics, or JV football or Boy Scouts...you want to stop and tell them that nobody can read a sign written in pencil when they're driving past it at 30 mph.

Researchers at MIT are focusing on the same thing. They're looking at how much time it takes us to read our own dashboard displays. And they believe that tenths of a second can mean the difference between driver safety and potential distraction consequences.

In recent tests, researchers with MIT’s AgeLab have found that dashboard displays using the more open and differentiated lettering found in the...

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Submitted Oct 20, 2012 By: PD

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 2:42:15 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse if ppl weren't doing all sorts of things and only tangentially driving, it wouldn't be a big issue.
mantarran Rookie Author Colorado Posts:37 Points:26,660 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 6:36:26 PM Ignore mantarran Report Abuse hmmmmmmmmmmmm
GasHunter0007 Veteran Author California Posts:289 Points:188,625 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 10:49:41 AM Ignore GasHunter0007 Report Abuse Same idea goes with navigation devices, yes, the face plate is made of glass and yes, it will reflect when you are trying to read something from it when it's sitting on the dashboard. Think!!!! Maybe using anti-glare such as the ones used in Rx eyeglasses work!
GasHunter0007 Veteran Author California Posts:289 Points:188,625 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 10:49:40 AM Ignore GasHunter0007 Report Abuse Same idea goes with navigation devices, yes, the face plate is made of glass and yes, it will reflect when you are trying to read something from it when it's sitting on the dashboard. Think!!!! Maybe using anti-glare such as the ones used in Rx eyeglasses work!
GasHunter0007 Veteran Author California Posts:289 Points:188,625 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 10:46:20 AM Ignore GasHunter0007 Report Abuse Someone is just now noticing this? Common sense. All vehicles have shiny dashboard and yes, it's a problem for drivers. Somehow we managed successfully to not let it distract us. If you put a windshield or any type of glass, and the sun hits it, sunlight will reflect! This is not rocket science folks.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:43:15 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse lots of gimmicks but no real driving. I agree Lobsters... too many facebookers.
Lobsters11 Rookie Author Sacramento Posts:29 Points:16,075 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 7:48:19 PM Ignore Lobsters11 Report Abuse If people were not so worried about their damn facebook we wouldn't have such a problem. The more technology we have, the stupider we get.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 3:08:28 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse how about instill some values in drivers so they will not eat, text, yack and do all sorts of things behind the wheel but instead, gasp, actually DRIVE and pay attention to the roads and those around them?
TTQuattro Rookie Author Indiana Posts:72 Points:45,060 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 9:15:52 PM Ignore TTQuattro Report Abuse they should just make everything voice controlled then you wont have to look lol
carranco Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,027 Points:271,465 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 8:56:55 PM Ignore carranco Report Abuse It doesn't take a scientist to figure that out.
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:5,086 Points:1,211,435 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 8:52:20 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse too many distractions
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,496 Points:1,271,125 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 4:44:02 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse So, they're trying to minimize time spent looking at the dash while gadget makers are trying to increase the number of distractions on the dash. Maybe it will all cancel out.
weshyatt Veteran Author Memphis Posts:297 Points:287,185 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 12:45:41 PM Ignore weshyatt Report Abuse With all the electronics on dashes this is a distration for the driver.
snappytom2 Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:3,639 Points:279,280 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 12:36:15 PM Ignore snappytom2 Report Abuse GasBuddy must really like this article as it is now the third day it has appeared on this blog. One should drive their car, not play dashboard games with all of the useless information that some nerd thinks is cute so the price of the car can be jacked up to kill more people.
GatorGuy Champion Author Columbia Posts:2,284 Points:1,226,490 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:58:49 AM Ignore GatorGuy Report Abuse Sounds like it will only raise car prices, not lower gas prices.
jeffbone Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,408 Points:415,600 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:51:02 AM Ignore jeffbone Report Abuse "Not Newsworthy"
myambro Champion Author Sacramento Posts:3,262 Points:1,076,085 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:47:33 AM Ignore myambro Report Abuse Funny, how out of all the fonts available in MS Outlook that only Franklin and Verdana (NOT Veranda) were available.
myambro Champion Author Sacramento Posts:3,262 Points:1,076,085 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:45:21 AM Ignore myambro Report Abuse Very cool.
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:16,754 Points:2,167,405 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:37:59 AM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse Nothing new here.
DeeLA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,959 Points:1,392,930 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:36:43 AM Ignore DeeLA Report Abuse This is the third day I've commented on this article.
Dennisjk Champion Author Detroit Posts:6,571 Points:1,949,775 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:31:35 AM Ignore Dennisjk Report Abuse OK, OK already.
trytogetby All-Star Author Cincinnati Posts:910 Points:224,845 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:28:49 AM Ignore trytogetby Report Abuse ok
eddyp94 Champion Author Ontario Posts:8,163 Points:1,660,835 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:23:08 AM Ignore eddyp94 Report Abuse But will it lower the car price...
repeater1 Champion Author Topeka Posts:8,442 Points:2,393,500 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:22:10 AM Ignore repeater1 Report Abuse How many days in a row are we going to post this article?
#12#_vabchusa All-Star Author Virginia Posts:877 Points:114,620 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:21:38 AM Ignore #12#_vabchusa Report Abuse New article please
firechief Champion Author New York Posts:3,526 Points:2,091,375 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:18:41 AM Ignore firechief Report Abuse illusions nothing but
pliskin Champion Author Syracuse Posts:6,207 Points:1,759,260 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:18:20 AM Ignore pliskin Report Abuse Old news, stupid idea!
BigE2112 Rookie Author Worcester Posts:29 Points:934,605 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:17:11 AM Ignore BigE2112 Report Abuse How about an audio warning that says "Hey, dumba$$! Slow down before you hit the car in front of you!" That could work....
johton Champion Author Seattle Posts:1,355 Points:339,840 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:10:15 AM Ignore johton Report Abuse This is really old. Come on now!
19sheldon43 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,979 Points:843,010 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:08:34 AM Ignore 19sheldon43 Report Abuse This article is getting moldy its so old
GasSpy007 Champion Author New York City Posts:1,963 Points:516,025 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:08:00 AM Ignore GasSpy007 Report Abuse can we move on from this article please??
smokay Rookie Author New Hampshire Posts:59 Points:40,490 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:05:20 AM Ignore smokay Report Abuse Ehhhh
pulpwood Champion Author Mississippi Posts:7,379 Points:1,860,855 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:03:57 AM Ignore pulpwood Report Abuse next
craigsfrank Champion Author Arkansas Posts:2,214 Points:861,475 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:02:30 AM Ignore craigsfrank Report Abuse I'm more distracted by the sign wavers shaking the signs into lanes of traffic. I'm all for freedom of advertising and speech except when it becomes a safety issue to them or my car.
5Golfer8 Champion Author Tucson Posts:2,263 Points:326,925 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:59:18 AM Ignore 5Golfer8 Report Abuse Old and a waste of money.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,144 Points:625,660 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:54:33 AM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse 3 day old post.
redhead_1971 All-Star Author Illinois Posts:809 Points:178,055 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:53:12 AM Ignore redhead_1971 Report Abuse that's interesting.
WhiteNight18 Sophomore Author Phoenix Posts:246 Points:229,910 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:51:57 AM Ignore WhiteNight18 Report Abuse better yet - figure out a way to get the texters to STOP while driving
Blondie22OH Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,608 Points:354,505 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:49:49 AM Ignore Blondie22OH Report Abuse This has been a repeat since last Friday or Saturday.
vjs3 Champion Author Denver Posts:2,682 Points:677,615 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:47:21 AM Ignore vjs3 Report Abuse Good luck...
mwc407 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,095 Points:576,385 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:46:41 AM Ignore mwc407 Report Abuse This probably plays a very small role in the grand scheme of things. But when hundreths of a second can make the difference between life and death; or serious injury and minor injury then it's good they are doing this research.
WaWanderer Champion Author Washington Posts:4,511 Points:613,650 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:46:39 AM Ignore WaWanderer Report Abuse Old news
Bud122CA Champion Author California Posts:7,606 Points:1,632,800 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:45:40 AM Ignore Bud122CA Report Abuse Old report
tpguess Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,696 Points:395,160 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:45:23 AM Ignore tpguess Report Abuse I think this is cool
wang91554 Champion Author San Jose Posts:3,310 Points:1,229,585 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:44:19 AM Ignore wang91554 Report Abuse ok already
drobbbb Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,595 Points:837,985 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:43:29 AM Ignore drobbbb Report Abuse ok
kst8er Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,933 Points:1,068,085 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:42:56 AM Ignore kst8er Report Abuse i see my fuel gage going down...
NAVYHM All-Star Author Cleveland Posts:761 Points:1,405,955 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:41:43 AM Ignore NAVYHM Report Abuse AND YET ANOTHER REASON FOR DRIVERS TOO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THEM... LOOK AT MY NEW COOL DASHBOARD, CRASH...
gravityhurts Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,234 Points:965,205 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:41:16 AM Ignore gravityhurts Report Abuse Enough already with this story...move on, PLEASE!
bigmace111 Champion Author Albany Posts:2,863 Points:642,300 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 10:40:42 AM Ignore bigmace111 Report Abuse 3rd freakin day for this story