Investigation of flashing and intensity characteristics for vehicle-mounted warning beacons

Kersavage, Kristin; Skinner, Nicholas P.; Bullough, John D.; Garvey, Philip M.; Donnell, Eric T.; Rea, Mark S.

doi:10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.008

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The intensity characteristics of the flashing barricade lights did not have a significant impact on the mean identification distances in the present study. However, similar flashing light intensity characteristics were shown in a previous study by Kersavage et al to affect detection distances for simulated workers when they were not wearing reflective vests ( 3 ). For the present study, the self-luminous flashing lights served as the critical visual information for this task and drivers were not required to detect and identify potential hazards and workers in or near the work zone.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Certainly, there is evidence that flashing police lights are useful at capturing drivers’ attention and in encouraging them to slow down when approaching a work zone or other location where a police vehicle and its flashing lights are present ( 11 ). The present results, however, along with those from Kersavage et al ( 3 ), strongly suggest that new standards and recommendations are needed not only for yellow flashing warning beacons but also for red, blue, or both red and blue flashing emergency lights, to ensure that the benefits of emergency lights are not countered by potential drawbacks. These findings suggest that current standards and practices may compromise the safety of drivers, highway construction workers, and emergency personnel.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 42%

“…Recently, Kersavage et al evaluated the impacts of nighttime flashing yellow vehicle-mounted warning beacons on a driver’s ability to detect simulated workers placed near the warning beacons ( 3 ). When the peak intensity of the flashing warning beacons exceeded 150 cd the visibility of the simulated workers not wearing a reflective vest began to deteriorate; as intensity increased above 150 cd approaching drivers had to be closer to detect the simulated worker.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because police officers want approaching drivers to be aware of their presence, they report that the selection and operation of flashing emergency lights for their vehicles is often based on which configuration(s) have the greatest apparent brightness ( 7 ). Whereas bright lights may help with awareness, anecdotal experience ( 8 ) and empirical evidence ( 3 , 9 , 10 ) all suggest that bright flashing lights can negatively affect the visual performance of drivers trying to negotiate work zone course-ways at night, thereby compromising the safety of these police officers. Therefore, it was deemed important to systematically investigate the ability of drivers to identify the direction of a work-zone lane change taper in the presence of these flashing emergency lights at night.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Driver Behavior in Response to Flashing Lights

Kersavage

Skinner

Bullough

et al. 2019

Transportation Research Record

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Flashing yellow warning lights notify drivers about the presence of work along the road. Current standards for these lights address performance of the individual light but not how lights should function when multiple lights are used. In the present study, warning lights were used to delineate a lane change taper in a simulated work zone. Lights flashed with varying intensities and either randomly or in sequence, with lights flashing in turn along the length of the lane change taper, either to the right or to the left. In half of the trials, a flashing police light bar was used on a vehicle located within the simulated work zone. Participants were asked to drive a vehicle approaching the work zone and to identify, as quickly as possible, in which direction the taper’s lane change was (either to the right or left). Drivers were able to correctly identify the taper from farther away when the lights flashed in a sequential pattern than when the flash pattern was random; and the presence of a police light bar resulted in shorter identification distances. The results, along with previous research, can inform standards for the use of flashing lights and police lights in work zones for the safety of drivers and workers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 42%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Driver Behavior in Response to Flashing Lights

Kersavage

Skinner

Bullough

et al. 2019

Transportation Research Record

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“…However, sometimes circumstantial data is missing, there are no eyewitnesses, or drivers and passengers do not survive to tell their stories or they have difficulty recalling the details of the events as a result of the injuries sustained in the collision. In addition, especially when the collection of statements from eyewitnesses is delayed, the recollection of the events becomes increasingly difficult over time [ 2 – 5 ]. Sophisticated computer software programs and reconstruction models can also be applied, with good estimation of the dynamics of the crash, though the degree of certainty required for criminal proceedings is rarely achieved [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of dashboard camera (Dash Cam) analysis in fatal vehicle–pedestrian crash reconstruction

Giovannini

Giorgetti

Pelletti

et al. 2021

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

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The reconstruction of dynamic of traffic injuries remains a challenge in forensic pathology and is often based on circumstantial data. Dash Cams are digital video recorders which can be located inside a vehicle and continuously record the view through the windscreen, thus providing objective evidence. Here we present the case of a traffic crash in which a pedestrian was hit by an articulated lorry. The analysis of a video recorded from a Dash Cam retrieved inside the vehicle during the death scene investigation (DSI) was crucial in the reconstruction of the manner of death. Indeed, the death, which was initially assumed to be accidental, was finally deemed as a suicide on the basis of the video recording, which showed an intentional and sudden rush of the victim to the middle of the roadway. Advantages and disadvantages of the use of Dash Cams will be discussed, focusing on the profound differences in the related national and international regulations. Based on the present case, in traffic crashes, the search for Dash Cams during the DSI may be recommended and the video recordings should be analyzed in the setting of a multidisciplinary and multimodal evaluation of the case, for a proper reconstruction of the facts.

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