Performance Analysis of Squad Car Lighting, Retro-reflective Markings, and Paint Treatments to Improve Safety at Roadside Traffic Stops
Loading...
View/Download File
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
Performance Analysis of Squad Car Lighting, Retro-reflective Markings, and Paint Treatments to Improve Safety at Roadside Traffic Stops
Published Date
2012-05
Publisher
Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota
Type
Report
Abstract
In the United States, more police officers are killed in collisions at roadside stops than through felonious acts.
Causal factors that affect police safety at roadside stops include officer conspicuity, squad conspicuity, weather
conditions, and the attention and fatigue level of the traveling public.
Described herein is a research project that provides insight and guidelines that may ultimately improve officer
safety at roadside stops. The project is designed to modify an existing sensor-based traffic monitoring system so
that it serves as a test bed to evaluate the retro-reflector, lighting, and paint treatments of an emergency vehicle to
determine whether particular combinations produce improved “move over” behavior of oncoming traffic. This is
done using automated data analysis software built specifically for this project. Tests are performed at a fully
instrumented rural intersection. After mimicking a traffic stop where a patrol vehicle is placed at this intersection,
the experimenter logs onto a website and enters the time when the test took place. Analysis software draws results
from the data. The results are e-mailed to the experimenters, who devise their own test regimes, following the
guidelines presented herein, and draw their own conclusions.
A second system was built to provide a more portable option for testing in urban areas. This system consists of two
freestanding radar boxes with wireless communication, as well as one netbook computer. Test procedures and
results are analogous to the original system. Additional calibration is automatically performed to account for the
variable position of the radars.
Description
Related to
Replaces
License
Collections
Funding information
Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Suggested citation
Fischer, Jacob; Krzmarzick, Adam; Menon, Arvind; Shankwitz, Craig. (2012). Performance Analysis of Squad Car Lighting, Retro-reflective Markings, and Paint Treatments to Improve Safety at Roadside Traffic Stops. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/148679.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.