Citation

Cottrell BHJ. Transp. Res. Rec. 1995; 1495: 36-40.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Strobe lights are used as a supplement to the red lens to draw the attention of the driver to a traffic signal. Strobe lights have been used in situations in which (a) the signal is unexpected, (b) the signal may be difficult to see, and (c) there is an accident problem or potential accident problem. The Barlo strobe light, a horizontal bar positioned across the middle of the red lens with about 60 flashes of white light per minute, was used at all of the sites. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the strobe light in the red lens of traffic signals and, if appropriate, to recommend guidelines for the use of strobe lights. Only applications of the Barlo strobe light were studied. The use of strobe lights by the Virginia Department of Transportation was examined and accident analyses were performed. On the basis of the trend analysis, there was no consistent evidence that strobe lights are effective in reducing accidents. The limitations of the analyses were identified in the study. There is no basis for recommending the use of strobe lights unless there are other bona fide measures of effectiveness that can be used to justify their installation.

Language: en

Keywords

Traffic signals; Street lighting; Highway traffic control