Citation

Bullough J, Skinner N, Brons J, Rea M. Accid. Reconstr. J. 2013; 23(6): 33-44, 64.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this article, the authors investigate the use of visual cues to encourage positive driving behaviors, including appropriate driving speeds. The study aims to assess perceptually based novel delineation and lighting techniques in order to impact the safety with which drivers negotiate problematic curves and to encourage the reduction of driving speeds and speed variance in congestion-prone areas, thus improving safety and increasing traffic flow. The article summarizes previous research conducted on novel delineation methods and on lighting and luminous displays for speed management. The authors also describe a field experiment of chevron curve treatments designed to reduce driving speeds. The experiment reveals that the use of chevrons to employ progressively-increasing sizes throughout a curve and adjusting their spacing to appear consistent with a smaller radius curve can increase drivers' perceptions of sharpness and result in greater speed reductions. Real-world installations of chrevron curve treatments are examined at two sites in the state of New York. Also described is a human factors study conducted to evaluate the perceptions and behaviors of drivers approaching a graphical speed display with various configurations.