Impacts of Emergency Traffic Patrol Lights on Human Perception

The overall goal of the project is to understand how color, intensity and other features of Emergency Traffic Patrol (ETP) lights affect human perception and thus to provide recommendations on improvement of warning light systems. The research team will perform empirical experiments to address the following specific aims based on the weather and traffic conditions in Maryland. Aim 1. Characterize the relationships between color, intensity and flash pattern of warning lights and human perception-reaction time (PRT) under a variety of traffic environments. Aim 2. Identify light patterns that minimize the interferences caused by bright warning light. Aim 3. Optimize warning light system with an ambient light detector.