Bicycle Reflector Project - Consumer Product Safety Commission

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Staff believes that the subjects did not detect the bicycle target until the vehicle was close enough to illuminate the mannequin and bicycle. At that time, the subject immediately recognized the object as a bicyclist. Staff believes that the 15-20 degree viewing angle between the driver and bicycle and the background visual noise in this simulation contributed to the low detection and recognition results. However, these conditions would be typical of many real street crossing situations. - 17 -
VII. Conclusions CPSC staff determined that the risk of death and injury from nighttime bicycle riding is considerably higher than riding during the day. Risk analysis shows that a cyclist riding during non-daylight hours is about four times more likely to be killed than a cyclist riding during the day. Alcohol use by either the motorist or the bicyclist was common in fatal incidents. Over one-half of the fatal incidents involved alcohol. Fatal incidents occurred at high posted speeds, over one fourth occurred at posted speeds of 55 mile per hour or greater. Higher speeds require increased preview time for a driver to avoid a crash. At 40 mph, a driver needs to detect a bicyclist at 325 feet to avoid a collision according to stopping sight distance tables which are applicable to a crossing path collision. At 40 mph, a driver needs to see a bicyclist at 600-825 feet to avoid a collision, according to the decision sight distance table which may be more applicable then the stopping sight distance table in a rear run over crash. The CPSC's field study compared driver perception of various reflector and light treatments. The study simulated a potential rear run over crash and a potential intersection crash. Treatments were selected to improve detection and recognition of the bicycle. The results of the study showed that there was no statistically significant difference in performance among the various reflector treatments and the current CPSC regulation reflectors. Therefore, improvement to the existing reflector requirement does not appear warranted. The parallel path crash simulation showed that the flashing red LED taillight used in the evaluation could significantly improve a driver's detection distance over the CPSC regulation reflectors. Recognition distance was not improved with this or any of the treatments tested. CPSC staff believes that this type of lighting has potential to improve nighttime bicycle safety. Currently, rear LED lights are available in a variety of styles. Additional research is required to determine minimum requirements for rear lighting. The crossing path crash simulation results showed that none of the reflector or light treatments tested improved detection or recognition. All treatments were detected and recognized at less than 200 feet. The results of this portion of the study demonstrate the difficulties for effective countermeasure for a crossing path collision. Even the large area reflective sheeting target with good angularity characteristics did not perform well. Limitations of a driver's peripheral vision, limited headlight beam spread and background visual noise are known factors that contribute to decreasing detection and recognition distance. CPSC staff believes a bicycle side treatment with significantly increased signal strength may be necessary to improve detection distances under these conditions. - 18 -
Page 1 and 2: BICYCLE REFLECTOR PROJECT Celestine
Page 3 and 4: Acknowledgments This project could
Page 5 and 6: II. Hazard Analysis The CPSC staff
Page 7 and 8: IV. Bicycle Reflector Operation and
Page 9 and 10: Reflector Technology Current reflec
Page 11 and 12: egulation to other types of bicycle
Page 13 and 14: Stop Sign Track Winch Cart and Bicy
Page 15 and 16: look at the oncoming headlights. Wh
Page 17 and 18: VI. Results and Discussion CPSC sta
Page 19: The mean detection distances for re
Page 23: References [1] 16 CFR Section 1500.

Bicycle Reflector Project - Consumer Product Safety Commission

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?