The influence of LED road stud color on driver behavior and perception along horizontal curves at nighttime

Portera, Alberto; Angioi, Francesco; Muzzioli, Leonardo; Di Stasi, Leandro L.; Bassani, Marco · 2023 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2023.06.007

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Summary

This study investigates the impact of LED road stud color on driver behavior and perception during nighttime navigation of horizontal curves. Motivated by higher nighttime crash rates and inconsistent prior findings regarding LED stud efficacy, the research addresses the lack of standardized color prescriptions in international regulations. The authors specifically examined whether red or white LED studs, compared to unlit conditions, influence longitudinal and transversal driving performance and subjective perceptions of risk, pleasantness, and arousal. The methodology employed a within-subject design using a fixed-base driving simulator. Thirty-six participants navigated a virtual rural highway featuring 24 curves with varying radii (120–440 m) and directions (left/right). The experimental conditions included unlit studs, red LED studs, and white LED studs placed at the carriageway edges. Data collection involved recording longitudinal speed and lateral position metrics during the simulation, followed by a static perception test where participants rated images of the curves using 9-point Likert scales for risk, valence (pleasantness), and arousal. Statistical analysis utilized repeated measures ANOVA on data from 34 participants who completed the tasks without motion sickness. The results indicated that white LED studs significantly improved subjective perception compared to unlit conditions. Participants rated curves with white studs as less risky, less arousing, and more pleasant. In contrast, red LED studs produced perceptions statistically similar to the unlit condition. Regarding driving behavior, white studs led to better lateral control, evidenced by drivers shifting their trajectories toward the road center and exhibiting lower standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), particularly on right-hand curves. No significant differences in longitudinal speed were observed between the stud conditions, indicating that improved visibility did not lead to riskier speeding behavior. The effects on lateral control were asymmetrical, likely due to the studs being placed only at the road edges, which provided visual support primarily for right-hand curves via the tangent point mechanism. The study concludes that white LED studs offer superior benefits for nighttime driving safety compared to red or unlit studs by enhancing driver comfort and lateral vehicle control without encouraging excessive speed. These findings suggest that transportation engineers should prioritize white lighting for active road studs to improve curve negotiation safety. The authors note limitations regarding the specific stud layout and simulator environment, recommending future field studies to validate these results across diverse road geometries and ecological driving conditions.

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Topics

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• roadway lighting effects
• perceptual countermeasures
• emergency work zone conspicuity
• dark adaptation mesopic
• vehicle conspicuity
• road geometry