Citation

Turner S, Wylde J, Langham M, Morrow A. Appl. Ergon. 2014; 45(5): 1313-1319.

Affiliation

User Perspective, Innovations Centre, University of Sussex, Science Park Square, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9SB England, United Kingdom. Electronic address: sally@userperspective.co.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apergo.2013.05.007

PMID

23746746

Abstract

An investigation of how emergency vehicle lighting (EVL) can be improved is reported with reference to an analysis of police vehicle road traffic accidents (Study 1). In Study 2, 37 regular drivers were shown film clips of a marked police vehicle, in which flash rate (1 Hz, 4 Hz) and pattern (single, triple pulse) were varied on the blue Light Emitting Diode (LED) roofbar. Results indicate a 4 Hz flash rate conveys greater urgency than a 1 Hz rate, while a 1 Hz, single flash combination was ranked the least urgent of all combinations. Participants claimed they would leave significantly more space before pulling out in front of an approaching police car (gap acceptance) in the 4 Hz single pulse condition in comparison to other EVL combinations. The preliminary implications for which flash characteristics could prove most optimal for emergency service use are discussed with regard to effects on driver perception and expected driving behaviour.

Language: en