Hydrophobic Coatings Reduce Driver Response Times, According to Report

Hydrophobic coatings may reduce driver response times, according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, cited in a later study conducted by Rob Cirincione of the Center for the Study of Responsive Law in Washington, D.C., "Innovation and Stagnation." The Center for the Study of Responsive Law is a nonprofit organization that conducts research and educational products to promote awareness of the needs of consumers. It was founded by consumer advocate Ralph Nader.

According to Cirincione, "hydrophobic coatings bond to glass at the molecular level and force water to bead up and roll off the surface." The University of Michigan study concluded that the coatings "decreased the minimum visual resolved by 50 percent." By treating glass with hydrophobic coatings, the study says that nighttime visual performance can be made equal to that of untreated daytime performance.

Circincione adds that hydrophobic coating development has improved, and the latest hydrophobic coatings can be effective for up to five years and 30,000 miles (as opposed to their predecessors, which lasted for only a few weeks or months at a time).

In addition, Circincione notes that heads-up display systems can increase safety as well. He refers to a system called Siemens VDO, which allows "speed, navigation and vehicle status indicators to be projected directly onto the windshield" and provides "50-percent reduction in the 'time needed to absorb information.'"

CLICK HERE to read the full report, "Innovation and Stagnation."

CLICK HERE for more information on the University of Michigan study.

CLICK HERE for more information on Siemens VDO.