The effect of lighting conditions and use of headlights on drivers’ perception and appraisal of approaching vehicles at junctions

Lee, Yee Mun; Sheppard, Elizabeth

Abstract

Use of Daytime Running Lights (DRL) is mandatory in many countries for motorcycles, and in some for cars. However, in developing countries DRLs may be optional or compliance low. The effect of car or motorcycle headlights and lighting conditions on Malaysian drivers’ ability to perceive and judge the safety of pulling out was investigated. Stimuli were photographs depicting either daytime or nighttime taken at a T-junction with approaching vehicles with headlights on or off. Headlights improved drivers’ ability to perceive cars and motorcycles in the nighttime photographs but not the daytime photographs, although this could be due to the bright weather in the photographs. Drivers judged it less safe to pull out when approaching motorcycles had headlights on than off, regardless of the lighting conditions, supporting the utility of DRL for motorcycles. Headlights did not affect judgments for cars, questionning the utility of DRL for cars.

Citation

Lee, Y. M., & Sheppard, E. (2018). The effect of lighting conditions and use of headlights on drivers’ perception and appraisal of approaching vehicles at junctions. Ergonomics, 61(3), 444-455. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2017.1364790

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Aug 16, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Aug 16, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 17, 2018
• Journal: Ergonomics
• Print ISSN: 0014-0139
• Electronic ISSN: 1366-5847
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 444-455
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2017.1364790
• Keywords: Driving, Headlights, Lighting Conditions, Motorcycle, Perception
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/963891
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140139.2017.1364790
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ergonomics on 16 August 2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00140139.2017.1364790.