Brake Lamp Photometrics and Automobile Rear Signaling

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of lamp photometrics to differentiation between brake and presence signals. To assess this relationship, signal identification was evaluated as a function of lamp photometrics under simulated dusk/dawn conditions. The following were the ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human factors 1987-10, Vol.29 (5), p.533-540
Main Authors: Sivak, Michael, Flannagan, Michael, Olson, Paul L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Brakes
Configurations
Ergonomics. Human factors
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lighting
Luminous intensity
Motor vehicles
Occupational psychology
Photometry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reaction time
Signaling
Simulation
Studies
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of lamp photometrics to differentiation between brake and presence signals. To assess this relationship, signal identification was evaluated as a function of lamp photometrics under simulated dusk/dawn conditions. The following were the main results: (1) Luminous intensity was a better predictor of signal identification than was average luminance. (2) The likelihood of identifying a signal as a brake signal was a monotonic function of lamp intensity. (3) Reaction time was positively related to the degree of subjects' uncertainty (as measured by the relative likelihood of “brake” responses): reaction time was slowest when the likelihood of “brake” or “presence” responses was close to 50%, and it decreased as the likelihood increased or decreased away from 50%. (4) Reaction time in a condition simulating typical U.S. rear-lighting configuration was significantly faster than in a condition simulating typical European configuration. The present results provide support for retaining luminous intensity as the relevant parameter of automobile brake-lighting specifications. Furthermore, these results argue against reducing the current minimum of 80 cd for the brake-lamp luminous intensity.
ISSN:0018-7208
1547-8181
DOI:10.1177/001872088702900503