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THE DETECTABILITY OF TWO SLOW VEHICLE WARNING DEVICES

THE PURPOSE WAS TO DETERMINE THE DETECTABILITY OF TWO SLOW VEHICLE WARNING DEVICES NOW IN USE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE TWO DEVICES COMPARED WERE THE SMV EMBLEM AND THE RED FLAG. THE EFFECTS OF SEX, AGE AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE ON THE ABILITY TO DETECT THE RED FLAG OR SMV EMBLEM WERE INVESTIGATED. A SURVEY OF LITERATURE WAS UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE THE ACCIDENT INVOLVEMENT OF SLOW VEHICLES AND TO EXAMINE INFORMATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SMV EMBLEM. A COMPARATIVE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED UTILIZING CUSTOMERS AT EASTLAND SHOPPING CENTER IN BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS. THE DATA PRODUCING SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 154 SUBJECTS, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DRIVING PUBLIC IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS WERE MADE: (1) THE SMV EMBLEM WAS DETECTABLE AT A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE RED FLAG. THE DIFFERENCE IN MEAN TIMES FOR DETECTION WOULD GIVE AN ADDITIONAL 270 FEET OF WARNING WHEN APPROACHING A FARM WAGON DISPLAYING A SMV EMBLEM. (2) THE SMV EMBLEM CAN BE DETECTED AT A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE RED FLAG BY THE MALE AND FEMALE SUBJECTS. (3) SUBJECTS UNDER 40 AND OVER 40 CAN DETECT THE SMV EMBLEM AT A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE RED FLAG. (4) SUBJECTS LIVING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF CITIES CAN DETECT THE SMV EMBLEM AT A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE RED FLAG. (5) AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS CAN DETECT THE SMV EMBLEM AT A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE RED FLAG. THIS GREATER DISTANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 270 FEET. (6) A PROPERLY DISPLAYED SMV EMBLEM CAN GIVE THE OPERATOR OF A SLOW VEHICLE AN ADDED MARGIN OF SAFETY WHEN COMPARED TO THE USE OF THE RED FLAG. /SRIS/

  • Corporate Authors:

    University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

    Urbana, IL  United States  61801
  • Authors:
    • Asper, O L
  • Publication Date: 1971

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 57 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00226355
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jul 17 1972 12:00AM