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

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

doi:10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.008

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

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

Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reducing the potential for crashes involving front line service workers and passing vehicles is important for increasing worker safety in work zones and similar locations. Flashing yellow warning beacons are often used to protect, delineate, and provide visual information to drivers within and approaching work zones. A nighttime field study using simulated workers, with and without reflective vests, present outside trucks was conducted to evaluate the effects of different warning beacon intensities and flash frequencies. Interactions between intensity and flash frequency were also analyzed. This study determined that intensitiesof 25/2.5 cd and 150/15 cd (peak/trough intensity) provided the farthest detection distances of the simulated worker. Mean detection distances in response to a flash frequency of 1 Hz were not statistically different from those in response to 4 Hz flashing. Simulated workers wearing reflective vests were seen the farthest distances away from the trucks for all combinations of intensity and flash frequency.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	23-28
Number of pages	6
Journal	Accident Analysis and Prevention
Volume	119
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.008
State	Published - Oct 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Human Factors and Ergonomics
Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.008

Cite this

@article{6d5b6942c356405084fb2c84d15a73fb,

title = "Investigation of flashing and intensity characteristics for vehicle-mounted warning beacons",

abstract = "Reducing the potential for crashes involving front line service workers and passing vehicles is important for increasing worker safety in work zones and similar locations. Flashing yellow warning beacons are often used to protect, delineate, and provide visual information to drivers within and approaching work zones. A nighttime field study using simulated workers, with and without reflective vests, present outside trucks was conducted to evaluate the effects of different warning beacon intensities and flash frequencies. Interactions between intensity and flash frequency were also analyzed. This study determined that intensitiesof 25/2.5 cd and 150/15 cd (peak/trough intensity) provided the farthest detection distances of the simulated worker. Mean detection distances in response to a flash frequency of 1 Hz were not statistically different from those in response to 4 Hz flashing. Simulated workers wearing reflective vests were seen the farthest distances away from the trucks for all combinations of intensity and flash frequency.",

author = "Kristin Kersavage and Skinner, {Nicholas P.} and Bullough, {John D.} and Garvey, {Philip M.} and Donnell, {Eric T.} and Rea, {Mark S.}",

note = "Funding Information: This publication was supported by Grant no. R01OH010165 to Mark S. Rea and funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services. The authors wish to thank Martin Pietrucha for helpful discussions in the experimental design and data analysis, and Matthew Patterson and David Redmond who assisted with conducting the experiment. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2018",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.008",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "119",

pages = "23--28",

journal = "Accident Analysis and Prevention",

issn = "0001-4575",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Investigation of flashing and intensity characteristics for vehicle-mounted warning beacons

AU - Kersavage, Kristin

AU - Skinner, Nicholas P.

AU - Bullough, John D.

AU - Garvey, Philip M.

AU - Donnell, Eric T.

AU - Rea, Mark S.

N1 - Funding Information: This publication was supported by Grant no. R01OH010165 to Mark S. Rea and funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services. The authors wish to thank Martin Pietrucha for helpful discussions in the experimental design and data analysis, and Matthew Patterson and David Redmond who assisted with conducting the experiment. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2018/10

Y1 - 2018/10

N2 - Reducing the potential for crashes involving front line service workers and passing vehicles is important for increasing worker safety in work zones and similar locations. Flashing yellow warning beacons are often used to protect, delineate, and provide visual information to drivers within and approaching work zones. A nighttime field study using simulated workers, with and without reflective vests, present outside trucks was conducted to evaluate the effects of different warning beacon intensities and flash frequencies. Interactions between intensity and flash frequency were also analyzed. This study determined that intensitiesof 25/2.5 cd and 150/15 cd (peak/trough intensity) provided the farthest detection distances of the simulated worker. Mean detection distances in response to a flash frequency of 1 Hz were not statistically different from those in response to 4 Hz flashing. Simulated workers wearing reflective vests were seen the farthest distances away from the trucks for all combinations of intensity and flash frequency.

AB - Reducing the potential for crashes involving front line service workers and passing vehicles is important for increasing worker safety in work zones and similar locations. Flashing yellow warning beacons are often used to protect, delineate, and provide visual information to drivers within and approaching work zones. A nighttime field study using simulated workers, with and without reflective vests, present outside trucks was conducted to evaluate the effects of different warning beacon intensities and flash frequencies. Interactions between intensity and flash frequency were also analyzed. This study determined that intensitiesof 25/2.5 cd and 150/15 cd (peak/trough intensity) provided the farthest detection distances of the simulated worker. Mean detection distances in response to a flash frequency of 1 Hz were not statistically different from those in response to 4 Hz flashing. Simulated workers wearing reflective vests were seen the farthest distances away from the trucks for all combinations of intensity and flash frequency.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049351671&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85049351671&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.008

DO - 10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.008

M3 - Article

C2 - 29990610

AN - SCOPUS:85049351671

SN - 0001-4575

VL - 119

SP - 23

EP - 28

JO - Accident Analysis and Prevention

JF - Accident Analysis and Prevention

ER -

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

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this