Citation

Sayer JR, Buonarosa ML. J. Saf. Res. 2008; 39(3): 281-286.

Affiliation

The University of Michigan, Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2150, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2007.12.004

PMID

18571569

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study examines the effects of high-visibility garment design on daytime pedestrian conspicuity in work zones. Factors assessed were garment color, amount of background material, pedestrian arm motion, scene complexity, and driver age. METHOD: The study was conducted in naturalistic conditions on public roads in real traffic. Drivers drove two passes on a 31-km route and indicated when they detected pedestrians outfitted in the fluorescent garments. The locations of the vehicle and the pedestrian were recorded. RESULTS: Detection distances between fluorescent yellow-green and fluorescent red-orange garments were not significantly different, nor were there any significant two-way interactions involving garment color. Pedestrians were detected at longer distances in lower complexity scenes. Arm motion significantly increased detection distances for pedestrians wearing a Class 2 vest, but had little added benefit on detection distances for pedestrians wearing a Class 2 jacket. DISCUSSION: Daytime detection distances for pedestrians wearing Class 2 or Class 3 garments are longest when the complexity of the surround is low. The more background information a driver has to search through, the longer it is likely to take the driver to locate a pedestrian - even when wearing a high-visibility garment. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: These findings will provide information to safety garment manufacturers about characteristics of high-visibility safety garments which make them effective for daytime use.

Language: en