Description
Yellow indicator lights flashing on the left or right side of vehicles are crucial signals in road traffic, indicating a change of driving direction. Moreover, the simultaneous flashing of indicator lights on both sides serves as a warning signal, indicating an emergency. Expanding upon the traditional flashing signals, advancements in LED technology now allow for the integration of motion patterns into indicator lights. This addition provides a secondary, redundant signal to indicate a change in driving direction. Usually, the utilization of two redundant signals is advantageous, as it can expedite perceptual decision-making processes. Yet, the introduction of motion patterns reduces signal intensity at onset, a crucial factor influencing reaction time speed. To assess the efficacy of redundant motion patterns in road traffic signalling, we conducted a visual search experiment using sets of 2, 4, or 6 cars. Participants were tasked with detecting left/right indicator lights and responding with button presses using the corresponding hand. Furthermore, participants were instructed to respond to warning signals by pressing a foot pedal. We utilized both traditional flashing of indicator lights and added motion sequences in two versions. These motion sequences were categorized as either on-motion (starting with no light and gradually turning on) or off-motion (starting with full light and gradually turning off). While error rates demonstrate a marginal benefit in crowded scenes (6 cars), reaction times exhibit a significant increase across all set sizes for on-motion signals compared to both classical flashing and off-motion. Regarding emergency indicators, the addition of on-motion signals does not change error rates but does lead to increased reaction times. Thus, the utilization of on-motion signals in car indicator lights is detrimental. For car manufacturers considering the addition of motion signals as a gimmick, opting for off-motion sequences would be a superior choice from a signalling perspective.| Period | 27 Aug 2024 |
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| Event title | European Conference on Visual Perception |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Aberdeen, United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |