The yellow bar pattern is a special road marking designed to reduce vehicle speed in the presence of road hazards. The present work studied the effect of the pattern on drivers' speed behaviour at two sites on the Alton by-pass in Hampshire. Information regarding pattern effectiveness at specific sites was obtained as a step towards adapting the pattern to produce optimum effect in particular road situations. The study consisted of a series of trials in which patterns were laid and speeds were compared with those recorded at unmodified sites. Results indicated that there was a definite interaction between the pattern, the site and the driver. Also, the pattern acted as a visual warning in some circumstances, indicating an approaching hazard to the driver. (Author/publisher).
Abstract