Lighted guidance devices: intelligent work zone traffic control highways

Annually, thousands of highway workers risk serious injury and death from drivers who enter work zones too fast or accelerate after entering the zone and then, because of their excess speed relative to the environmental limitations, have insufficient time to avoid accidents in the zone. Slow-moving vehicles are a problem in reducing traffic flow. This research investigated the effectiveness of a system of pulsing lights, that gave the illusion of movement (Phi phenomenon), in causing drivers to unknowingly synchronize their vehicle speed with the light pulses. Forty drivers participated: 20 young (10 female, 10 male; 21-42 years) and 20 older adults (10 female, 10 male; 55 to 87 years). Each participant made 15 passes through the work zone: a control pass with stationary white lights, two control passes with no lights, and 12 passes of test conditions -- two colors (red & green) over three apparent pulse speeds (minus 80, zero, and positive 80 miles per hour) over two zone entry speeds (40 & 70 miles per hour). Age, sex, and zone entry speed differences were found, but overall: (1) backward moving lights (minus 80 miles per hour) caused drivers to reduce their vehicle speed, (2) forward moving lights (positive 80 miles per hour) caused drivers to increase their vehicle speed, (3) stationary light and control lights had little or no effect, and (4) green produced stronger effects than red. Backward moving lights caused the greatest slowing in the young while forward moving lights caused the greatest acceleration in the old males and young females.

• Corporate Authors:

  Minnesota. Department of Transportation

  St Paul, Minnesota  United States 
• Authors:
  • Vercruyssen, M
  • Williams, G
  • Wade, M G
• Publication Date: 1995-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 128p
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: MN/RC-96/05

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Behavior; Color; Data collection; Drivers; Females; Flashing traffic signals; Human characteristics; Intelligent transportation systems; Males; Perception; Speed control; Test procedures
• ATRI Terms: Age; Colour; Construction site; Data collection; Driver behaviour; Driver characteristics; Female; Flashing light; Intelligent transport systems (ITS); Male; Perception; Speed control; Test method
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01399424
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 23 2012 6:45PM