Misestimating time of collision in the tunnel entrance due to a disturbed adaptation

Sun position is an issue! A statistical analysis of traffic accidents occurring in proximity of the portals of the Gubrist tunnel revealed an increased risk of accident when the position of the sun is such as a driver could see the sun close above the entrance portal. Also, the risk of accident is increased when a driver accessing the tunnel could be glared by specular reflections of sunlight caused by the tunnel portal. In order to reduce the risk of accident, the position of the sun, reflectance, orientation and shape of tunnel portals should be considered when planning highway segments. The use of sun shielding measures could be considered, but, in the case of the Gubrist tunnel, shielding measures could probably not be installed efficiently. Alternatively, a system could be installed, which senses the actual conditions and alerts the driver accessing the tunnel in case of risky lighting conditions. In order to investigate the contribution of glare to the risk of accident, four experiments were carried out in the laboratory. As the rear end crash is an important type of accident occurring at tunnel portals, experiments were designed such as to enable conclusions related to causes for rear end crashes.

• Corporate Authors:

  BUNDESAMT FUER STRASSENBAU (ASTRA) / OFFICE FEDERAL DES ROUTES (OFROU)

  MUEHLESTRASSE 2, ITTIGEN
  BERN,   Switzerland  CH-3003
• Authors:
  • MENOZZI, M
  • YING YIN, H
  • NERACHER, M
  • MEILI, P
• Publication Date: 2014-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 84P
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 1484

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crashes; Hazards; Intersection elements; Psychological adaptation; Reflectivity; Research reports; Statistics; Sun; Tests; Tunnels; Vision; Weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Entrances
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 2208: Adaptation (psychol); 1631: Collision; 6255: Empirical; 426: Entrance; 6255: Experiment; 5926: Reflection; 8559: Research report; 5926: Retroreflection; 9150: Risk; 6555: Statistics; 2515: Sun; 3374: Tunnel; 2066: Vision; 2545: Weather
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01547819
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 15 2014 3:21PM