Citation

Woltman HL, Austin RL. Transp. Res. Rec. 1974; 502: 1-8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study includes a comparison of the daylight visibility properties of 2 flourescent and 4 conventional pigments against representative backgrounds for clear and overcast sky conditions, representative solar altitudes, and cardinal directions. In detection and identification, fluorescents are comparable to conventional high-visibility pigments under optimum viewing conditions; however, fluorescents show a substantial improvement when illumination levels decrease toward dusk or when conditions for visibility are least advantageous. As a result, fluorescent colors are now used for certain safety applicances and devices where particularly hazardous conditions are common. Aspects of night visibility suffer from extremes of contrast, low levels of available light, and ineffectiveness of any conventional color to render objects visible at night. Visual clues are dependent on learned patterns of light sources rather than on natural information acquired from daytime driving. Transferral of visual skills from day to night is substantially inhibited by the widely differing aspects unless some "natural' visual information is preserved. The night factors and materials that tend to visually preserve nature information have long been employed for traffic signs and safety appliances. Their extension to cyclist and vehicular use is a promising means of enhancing rapid night visual comprehension. A systemized means of evaluating both the day and night aspects of the visual elements comprising the motorcycle and cyclist is presented. A perception model is reviewed as a possible means of evaluating the several aspects of the visual model.

Language: en