COVERT RESPONSES OF DRIVERS TO TWO ROAD BASED ALERTING DEVICES (1977)

Two drivers alerting devices installed on the approaches to hazardous roundabout sites in Wiltshire have been compared. One of these devices, known as rumble areas produces both an auditory and visual signal whereas the other device, consisting of a grid of yellow bars, produces essentially visual cues. The covert response has been examined in a total of twenty-five subjects using subjective assessments, and in the case of nine subjects, heart rate responses in addition. Results of the heart rate tests indicate that rumble areas generally increased levels of alertness although there was no significant support for this from the subjective assessment. Yellow bars did not appear to have a similar effect. The devices did not alarm subjects and although both tended to slightly increase levels of distraction the resulting level was still law. (crown copyright 1977).

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Publication Date: 1977

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highways; Passenger transportation
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00321143
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Systems Center
• Files: TSR
• Created Date: Oct 30 1982 12:00AM