DRIVER PERCEPTION OF PEDESTRIAN CONSPICUOUSNESS UNDER STANDARD HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION

A driver must perceive objects in the roadway early to avoid accidents. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable of all roadway users, and they must completely avoid accidents to escape injury or death. How conspicuous pedestrians should be at night is explored in this study. Brightness and area are related to subjective driver interpretations of pedestrian conspicuousness. The performance of various reflective surfaces illuminated by the present standard headlight system is compared to the brightness and area requirements found for each level of conspicuousness. The area available for pedestrian visibility enhancement is determined by silhouette area analysis. Applicable reflective treatments are proposed as safety countermeasures, and other potential contributing factors are discussed.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/540/540-004.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DRIVER+PERCEPTION+OF+PEDESTRIAN+CONSPICUOUSNESS+UNDER+STANDARD+HEADLIGHT+ILLUMINATION&author=R.+Austin&author=D.+Klassen&author=R.+Vanstrum&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309023939
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Pedestrians. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Austin, Robert L
  • Klassen, Donald J
  • Vanstrum, Robert C
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 35-45
• Monograph Title: Urban Accident Patterns
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 540
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brightness; Drivers; Headlamps; Pedestrians; Perception; Reflectivity; Visibility
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00126825
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023939
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 16 1975 12:00AM