Citation

Akerboom SP, Kruysse HW, La Heij W. Vis. Veh. 1993; 4: 129-138.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In two experiments, subjects were shown simulated rear-end configurations of cars on a vector display. They were asked to react to brake lights by pushing a button. In experiment 1, the effect of the following variables was investigated on the speed and accuracy of these brake reactions: the rear-end lights illuminated at the onset of a trial (only presence lights, presence lights with one fog light, presence lights with two fog lights); (b) configuration of presence and brake lights (coincident and separate); (c) contrast between presence and brake lights; and (d) delay between onset of the trial and the onset of the brake lights (0, 1400 and 2800 msec). The results showed that the presence of fog lights in part of the trials resulted in two types of errors: false alarms (brake reactions to illuminated fog lights) and misses (no reactions to illuminated fog lights). The reaction time data were completely in accordance with these findings. In experiment 2 it was investigated whether the apparent ambiguity resulting from the use of fog lights in part of the trials can be reduced by an additional single high-mounted brake light. The results showed that a third brake light reduces reaction times under all conditions, almost completely eliminates the misses, but has no effect on the number of false alarms. It is argued that the number of false alarms will only diminish when a third brake light is used in all braking situations and not just in a subset of the trials.