An examination of naturalistic windshield wiper usage

In the course of a field operational test, 96 participants drove instrumented vehicles from which driving data was recorded. Windshield wiper activity was examined in order to provide data regarding the naturalistic use of wiper systems. The results have implications for the design and durability of windshield wipers, wiper motors, windshields, and glazing treatments. Overall, wipers were used 8.6% of the time. When ambient lighting diminished, a shift towards higher wiper speeds was observed. Average headway time and range increased, and speed decreased, when wipers were engaged. Finally, middle-aged drivers used wipers more often than their younger and older counterparts.