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Title:

On-Demand Roadway-Lighting System Effect on Visual Performance and Public Impressions

Accession Number:

01588981

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has developed an on-demand roadway lighting system and has tested the system’s effect on driver visual performance. On-demand roadway lighting can dramatically reduce energy usage while maintaining or increasing vehicle and pedestrian safety. The objective of this research was to determine if connected vehicle technology could be used to sense the presence of a vehicle to control on-demand lighting, to determine the impact of on-demand lighting on driver visual performance and to sample public acceptance of such a system. The system developed uses connected-vehicle technology, wireless lighting controls, LED luminaires, and stand-alone processor on the Virginia Smart Road senses vehicles and turns on roadway lighting only when needed. Visual performance testing revealed a relationship between speed and the amount of forward lighting needed to spot pedestrians and hazards on the side of the roadway, and that there was no significant difference in visual performance between on-demand lighting and continuously-on lighting conditions. A survey of participant reactions indicates that the public generally accepts on-demand lighting and does not find it distracting as long as a minimum lighting condition is met. The survey also found that participants felt the system provided a safe driving environment. The main application for an on-demand lighting system would be on roadways with little traffic at night.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AND40 Standing Committee on Visibility.

Monograph Accession #:

01584066

Report/Paper Numbers:

16-1608

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Palmer, Matthew E
Gibbons, Ronald
Jahangiri, Arash

Pagination:

11p

Publication Date:

2016

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; References; Tables

Geographic Terms:

Virginia

Subject Areas:

Highways; Safety and Human Factors

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2016 Paper #16-1608

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Jan 12 2016 4:41PM