Using Lighting And Visual Information To Alter Driver Behavior

Final report; 2010-2012.PDFTech ReportC-06-36C-06-36Visual perceptionInformation display systemsTraffic speedNew YorkUniversity Transportation Research CenterBullough, John D.Skinner, Nicholas P.Brons, Jennifer A.Rea, Mark S.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Lighting Research CenterNew York (State). Dept. of TransportationUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS-Traffic Control DevicesNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human FactorsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Speed LimitsUS Transportation CollectionInappropriate traffic speeds are a major cause of traffic fatalities. Since driving is a task with a substantial contributionfrom vision, the use of lighting and visual information such as signage could assist in providing appropriate cues toencourage appropriate driving speeds. At locations such as sharp roadway curves, an overall reduction in driving speedmight be desirable to prevent rollover crashes. At other locations, such as those prone to chronic congestion (exit/entranceramps, work zones and where posted speed limits change), uniformity of vehicle speeds might be desirable in order tooptimize safety and traffic flow. For roadway curves, a method of modifying the size and spacing of traditional chevronsigns along a curve was used to convey the perception of increased curvature sharpness. This treatment was field tested in acontrolled driving experiment, and then tested in a real-world installation along two highway curves in New York State.Based on the real-world test results, when the perception of curvature sharpness was increased, vehicle speeds werereduced enough to show a statistically significant change. To address the issue of reducing speed variance at congestedlocations, conditional speed display messages were displayed on a changeable message board based on the speed ofoncoming traffic. Under a controlled field experiment, it was found to have the desired impact in terms of driving speed. Ina real-world test installation, drivers modified their speeds which reduced speed variance in response to a similarconditional speed display sign. The results of the research project suggest that chevron size and spacing modifications canbe readily implemented. Additional limited trials at different types of congested locations should be performed to betterunderstand the impact of conditional speed displays; however, the present results of this research project are promising