Study to Understand the Influence of Emergency Vehicle Color, Reflectance, Signing/Arrow Boards, and Lighting Configurations in Reducing Responder-Involved Crashes

The main objective of the research project is to develop a set of recommendations on emergency lighting, vehicle colors, markings, use of dynamic message boards, and placement of graphics to influence driver compliance with Florida’s “Move Over” law. The goal of this project is to understand the effect of different emergency lights color and flash patterns on human eyes and how to improve the conspicuity, visibility, and reflectivity of RRSP vehicles in varying light and weather conditions to improve Road Ranger Service Patrol (RRSP) safety.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $305,269.00
• Contract Numbers:

  BED31 977-24

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Managing Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Project Managers:

  Kinney, Shawn

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Florida, Gainesville

  219 Grinter Hall
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611
• Principal Investigators:

  Agarwal, Nithin

• Start Date: 20230829
• Expected Completion Date: 20250830
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Emergency vehicles; Reflectivity; Traffic safety; Variable message signs; Visibility; Weather conditions
• Geographic Terms: Florida
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01974342
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Florida Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: BED31 977-24
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 17 2025 3:58PM