Analysis of Nighttime Driving Behavior at Different Retroreflective Longitudinal Pavement Markings
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of different reflective longitudinal pavement markings on driving behavior under varying conditions at nighttime. A field experiment was carried out on a specifically prepared test track. Subjects were selected based on psychological pre-testing to ensure a homogenous test sample for three age groups. Nighttime test drives were carried out within three different marking conditions (non-reflective, standard reflective, wet reflective material) in three driving circumstances (dry, wet and wet & rainy) with identical test vehicles. Driving performance was measured by means of speed choice and questionnaire data to collect drivers´ subjective comfort levels for each test condition. Results indicate that both reflective marking materials are perceived as more comfortable and guiding compared to the non-reflective marking. Applying reflective marking material showed a positive effect on the subjective comfort feeling of drivers, especially in adverse driving conditions. Regarding driving behavior by means of speed choice, subjects drove slowest in the non-reflective condition, faster under standard reflective marking condition, and slightly faster under the condition with advanced reflective material. It could be shown that both reflective longitudinal marking materials are perceived as more comfortable and guiding compared to the non-reflective marking. Furthermore, results suggest that these benefits outweigh the disadvantages (slightly higher speed choice) for drivers in general, but in particular for older drivers.
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHD55 Standing Committee on Signing and Marking Materials.
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
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Authors:
- Gatscha, Michael
- Diamandouros, Konstandinos
- Sauter, Gernot
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
- Date: 2016
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 19p
- Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Behavior; Drivers; Dry weather; Highway safety; Night visibility; Reflectorized road markings; Retroreflectivity; Surface course (Pavements); Wet weather
- Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01590020
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 16-2814
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Feb 9 2016 9:18AM