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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:18,599 Points:1,607,570 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 5:42:15 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 9:36:26 PM Ignore mantarran Report Abuse hmmmmmmmmmmmm
GasHunter0007 Veteran Author California Posts:289 Points:166,875 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 1:49:41 PM 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:166,875 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 1:49:40 PM 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:166,875 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 1:46:20 PM 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:18,599 Points:1,607,570 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:43:15 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 10:48:19 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:18,599 Points:1,607,570 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 6:08:28 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 23, 2012 12:15:52 AM 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:268,265 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:56:55 PM Ignore carranco Report Abuse It doesn't take a scientist to figure that out.
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,941 Points:1,182,010 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 11:52:20 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse too many distractions
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,345 Points:1,241,375 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 7:44:02 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 Sophomore Author Memphis Posts:223 Points:262,355 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 3:45:41 PM Ignore weshyatt Report Abuse With all the electronics on dashes this is a distration for the driver.
snappytom2 Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:3,541 Points:274,320 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 3:36:15 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:2,225 Points:1,205,560 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:58:49 PM Ignore GatorGuy Report Abuse Sounds like it will only raise car prices, not lower gas prices.
jeffbone Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,356 Points:398,985 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:51:02 PM Ignore jeffbone Report Abuse "Not Newsworthy"
myambro Champion Author Sacramento Posts:3,199 Points:1,051,200 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:47:33 PM 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:3,199 Points:1,051,200 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:45:21 PM Ignore myambro Report Abuse Very cool.
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:16,593 Points:2,138,505 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:37:59 PM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse Nothing new here.
DeeLA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,807 Points:1,363,380 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:36:43 PM Ignore DeeLA Report Abuse This is the third day I've commented on this article.
Dennisjk Champion Author Detroit Posts:6,476 Points:1,923,500 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:31:35 PM Ignore Dennisjk Report Abuse OK, OK already.
trytogetby All-Star Author Cincinnati Posts:864 Points:214,000 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:28:49 PM Ignore trytogetby Report Abuse ok
eddyp94 Champion Author Ontario Posts:8,163 Points:1,660,835 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:23:08 PM Ignore eddyp94 Report Abuse But will it lower the car price...
repeater1 Champion Author Topeka Posts:8,293 Points:2,363,870 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:22:10 PM Ignore repeater1 Report Abuse How many days in a row are we going to post this article?
#12#_vabchusa All-Star Author Virginia Posts:752 Points:89,845 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:21:38 PM Ignore #12#_vabchusa Report Abuse New article please
firechief Champion Author New York Posts:3,436 Points:2,064,425 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:18:41 PM Ignore firechief Report Abuse illusions nothing but
pliskin Champion Author Syracuse Posts:6,077 Points:1,730,945 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:18:20 PM Ignore pliskin Report Abuse Old news, stupid idea!
BigE2112 Rookie Author Worcester Posts:29 Points:911,805 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:17:11 PM 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:1,205 Points:310,215 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:10:15 PM 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 2:08:34 PM Ignore 19sheldon43 Report Abuse This article is getting moldy its so old
GasSpy007 Champion Author New York City Posts:1,811 Points:486,375 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:08:00 PM 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 2:05:20 PM Ignore smokay Report Abuse Ehhhh
pulpwood Champion Author Mississippi Posts:7,379 Points:1,859,605 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:03:57 PM Ignore pulpwood Report Abuse next
craigsfrank Champion Author Arkansas Posts:2,198 Points:839,080 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:02:30 PM 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:2,133 Points:299,675 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:59:18 PM Ignore 5Golfer8 Report Abuse Old and a waste of money.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,993 Points:596,760 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:54:33 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse 3 day old post.
redhead_1971 All-Star Author Illinois Posts:763 Points:162,635 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:53:12 PM Ignore redhead_1971 Report Abuse that's interesting.
WhiteNight18 Sophomore Author Phoenix Posts:245 Points:210,140 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:51:57 PM Ignore WhiteNight18 Report Abuse better yet - figure out a way to get the texters to STOP while driving
Blondie22OH Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,540 Points:337,345 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:49:49 PM Ignore Blondie22OH Report Abuse This has been a repeat since last Friday or Saturday.
vjs3 Champion Author Denver Posts:2,531 Points:647,965 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:47:21 PM Ignore vjs3 Report Abuse Good luck...
mwc407 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,095 Points:556,735 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:46:41 PM 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:4,326 Points:584,000 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:46:39 PM Ignore WaWanderer Report Abuse Old news
Bud122CA Champion Author California Posts:7,461 Points:1,604,125 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:45:40 PM Ignore Bud122CA Report Abuse Old report
tpguess Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,591 Points:369,885 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:45:23 PM Ignore tpguess Report Abuse I think this is cool
wang91554 Champion Author San Jose Posts:3,160 Points:1,199,855 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:44:19 PM Ignore wang91554 Report Abuse ok already
drobbbb Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,470 Points:810,510 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:43:29 PM Ignore drobbbb Report Abuse ok
kst8er Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,877 Points:1,044,665 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:42:56 PM Ignore kst8er Report Abuse i see my fuel gage going down...
NAVYHM All-Star Author Cleveland Posts:761 Points:1,384,955 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:41:43 PM 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:4,083 Points:935,555 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:41:16 PM Ignore gravityhurts Report Abuse Enough already with this story...move on, PLEASE!
bigmace111 Champion Author Albany Posts:2,713 Points:612,650 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 1:40:42 PM Ignore bigmace111 Report Abuse 3rd freakin day for this story