Speed Control Method for Highway Tunnel Safety Based on Visual Illusion

Abstract

The low luminance and the monotony of highway tunnels are likely to cause drivers to experience a visual illusion while driving. Drivers tend to underestimate their speed and thus are exposed to a higher risk of relatively severe traffic accidents. Finding a low-cost way to reduce this visual illusion and to improve traffic safety is a challenge for current highway tunnel operations. High-frequency visual information can make a driver overestimate speed; low-frequency visual information may induce a driver to underestimate speed. However, quantitative investigations of the influence of visual information of various frequencies and luminance levels on drivers' speed perception are lacking. This paper describes a driving simulation model created with Autodesk's 3ds Max modeling software and tests carried out with simulators and E-Prime research software. The mechanisms of speed perception and reaction time were studied to consider the effect of visual information with high frequencies and with combined high and low frequencies under different luminance levels (100%, 50%, and 25% of standard luminance). The test results revealed that speed overestimation was caused mainly by high-frequency visual information. This overestimation could be reduced by combining high-frequency visual information with low-frequency visual information. With higher luminance, speed overestimation was lessened and drivers' reaction time was shorter. It is suggested that visual information with combined frequencies be employed to control drivers' illusions of speed and to enhance traffic safety.

The speed control effect of highway tunnel sidewall markings based on color and temporal frequency

“…It appears unlikely that drivers put more effort into the yellow or blue sidewall markings in dark tunnels. Previous research found that the luminance and lightness can affect speed perception . Consequently, the hue, saturation, and lightness may have combined effects on speed perception.…”

“…Experiments were carried out in this study to examine the precision of the simulation test compared with the field test (both are common sections of highways). Wan et al [28] analyzed the difference between the real speed in a low-luminance tunnel and the perceived speed of the tunnel model in a driving simulation, and the difference was about 30%. If the low-luminance tunnel is chosen as the standard stimulus, then it would be difficult to meet the degree of accuracy requirements.…”

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Speed Reduction Markings in Highway Tunnels

“…There is a high risk associated with real vehicle testing in highway tunnels as well as a dependency on tunnel sidewall marking installation, which would affect traffic flow and management while increasing testing expenses. In order to overcome these difficulties and avoid the poor reproducibility inherent in that method, this study used Autodesk 3ds Max® (https://www.autodesk.com/products/3dsmax/overview) to establish a highway tunnel driving simulation model (Wan et al 2015). Autodesk 3ds Max® is a 3D computer graphics program, which can be used to making 3D animations, models and images.…”

“…The test was conducted in the Wuhan University of Technology, Intelligent Transport System, High Definition (WUTITS-HD), an advanced driving simulator produced by Wuhan University of Technology ( Figure 1) (Wan et al 2015). The driving simulator used in the experimentation is a full scale, dynamic simulator, with steering wheel with force feedback.…”

“…Experiments were carried out in this study to examine the precision of the simulation test compared to the field test. Figure 2 illustrates the field scene as compared to the simulation scene (Wan et al 2015). A driving speed of 74 km/h was taken in the field scene and a speed of 74 ± 20 km/h (with a minimum interval of 2.5 km/h) was taken in the simulation scene.…”