Mason psychology students develop ‘smart’ speedometer technology

A group of students in Mason’s Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program have developed new technology they hope will help drivers in inclement weather.

The device called an “Inclement Weather Speedometer,” is a special speedometer indicating safe driving speeds in poor conditions. For example, on a slick road, 45 mph might glow yellow as a warning and 55 mph might glow red indicating danger.

“We put this into a driving simulator and had people drive with the system and we found that they did indeed slow down,” said doctoral student David Kidd.

The team of students, led by Kidd, were inspired to come up with the idea for a competition sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Read more at WTOP.com

(Photo from Creative Commons user Watt_Dabney)