Perceptual countermeasures to speeding (PCMs) are relatively low cost, non-obtrusive roadmarkings usually involving only paint, gravel, or both. They are designed to reduce travel speeds through influencing speed perception, mental workload, risk perception, and/or driver comfort. The aim of the present project was to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of a representative range of PCMs using the driving simulator at MUARC. Six experiments were conducted on the simulator, each involving 24 to 36 participants with full driving licences. participants drove on a number of simulated roads containing various PCM treatments as well as others acting as control roads. Treatments evaluated on the approach to an intersection included transverse lines, peripheral transverse lines, a herringbone pattern, the Wundt illusion, and trees on the road edge. On roads involving continuous driving, PCMs evaluated included narrow "perceptual" lane widths, painted hatched medians, gravel medians, painted chequered edgelines, and low visual contrast gravel edgelines. Several curve enhancement treatments were also evaluated, including inside hatching, centreline hatching, and novel reflector post positioning. Several of the PCMs evaluated were concluded to be effective at reducing travel speeds, including: full lane width and peripheral transverse lines; a hatched median (especially with a narrow perceptual lane width), with or without intermittent gravel edgelines; and enhanced reflector post spacings. (A)
Abstract