Texas Dot Vehicle Fleet Warning Light Policy Research (original) (raw)

2000, Transportation Research Circular

Abstract

his paper presents an overview and preliminary results of current research being conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to improve the latter's vehicle fleet warning light policy and procedures. Although the need for vehicle warning lights is well understood and mandated by law, the large number of design options available (types of lights, lens colors, mounting positions, and combinations thereof) to transportation agencies such as TxDOT makes establishment and maintenance of a consistent policy regarding vehicle warning lights difficult. Also, there is considerable and growing pressure to incorporate into maintenance and service vehicles lighting technologies that are visually similar to those implemented on police and other emergency vehicles (e.g., light bars or blue flashers). Research conducted by TTI and TxDOT and presented in this paper includes the results of a national survey of vehicle warning light policies by state DOTs, a review of human factors and driver behavior research that has influenced warning light policies over the years, and studies of motorist comprehension and driving responses to different warning light configurations. Specifically, studies are being conducted in several cities statewide to determine the types of vehicles (police, fire, maintenance, tow services, and so forth) and the relative degree of concern or caution drivers commonly associate with different vehicle warning light color configurations. Field studies are also being performed to determine the differences in driver behavior (measured in terms of speed, lane choice and lane changing, and brake application) as drivers approach a vehicle parked on the shoulder with one of three different vehicle warning light configurations displayed (red-blue-yellow configuration, blue-yellow configuration, or all-yellow configuration). These objective data on motorists' perceptions and responses will help TxDOT policymakers to ensure that the vehicle warning light systems utilized fulfill a real need, that they are credible to the public, and that they elicit correct and consistent reactions by drivers.

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References (5)

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