FLUORESCENT RETROREFLECTIVE SIGNING OF WORK ZONES (ABSTRACT ONLY)
Fluorescent retroreflective materials increase the brightness of traffic signs. Especially in situations where drivers are expected to adapt their behavior considerably, such as in construction work zones, a benefit is expected from the increased conspicuity of fluorescent retroreflective signs. In the approach area of a work zone, fluorescent material can be used instead of non-fluorescent materials for the advance warning signs that indicate the configuration of the upcoming work zone. Furthermore, fluorescent material can be used for additional backing boards behind traffic signs, e.g., to attract attention to a posted speed sign. In a field experiment, video observations were made of the approach area of a construction work zone. On consecutive days, three types of signing were installed in the approach area of the work zone: non-fluorescent signing (High Intensity Grade (HIG)), fluorescent signing (Diamond Grade (DG)) and the combination of fluorescent signing and backing boards (DG + BB). Video recordings were made during dusk, daylight and nighttime conditions. Driver behavior was analyzed in terms of speed (average speeds and percentage of vehicles entering the work zone at excessive speeds), Time-To-Collision (TTC), and lane changes. Results showed that fluorescent retroreflective material reduced the (very high) speeds during dusk conditions (especially during low ambient light conditions, fluorescent materials have a very bright appearance). At night, speeds increased with fluorescent signing. Backing boards behind the posted speed signs reduced average speeds and excessive speeds at the entry of the work zone during daytime. An analysis of excessive speeds at the entry of the work zone confirms the fluorescent backing board performance. Without fluorescent backing boards more than 25% of the cars drove faster than 100 km/h during daylight at the work zone entry, while with fluorescent backing boards only 10% drove that fast. With respect to the interaction between vehicles, a decrease of the proportion of small TTCs during night showed that DG and DG + BB signing caused a shift into a safer direction, even though a speed increase was recorded at night in the condition with DG signing. Furthermore, during dusk and night, fluorescent backing boards reduced last minute lane changes. In daylight the opposite was found. Conspicuity measurements during daytime showed that fluorescent retroreflective material doubled the conspicuity with respect to non-fluorescent material, corresponding to a daytime luminance which was twice as high.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/1102626X
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Corporate Authors:
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Authors:
- de Vos, A P
- ALFERDINCK, JWAM
- KOOI, F L
- VAN DER HORST, ARA
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Conference:
- Traffic Safety on Two Continents
- Location: Malmo, Sweden
- Date: 1999-9-20 to 1999-9-22
- Publication Date: 2000
Language
- English
Media Info
- Pagination: p. 213-215
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Serial:
- Publication of: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute
- Publisher: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Construction; Daylight; Dusk; Fluorescence; Lane changing; Luminance; Night; Retroreflectivity; Speed; Time; Traffic crashes; Traffic signs; Visibility; Work zone traffic control; Work zones
- Uncontrolled Terms: Backing boards; Non-fluorescent materials; Time-to-collision
- Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00795568
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: VTI konferens 13A, Part 4
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Jul 31 2000 12:00AM