The Effects of Active Luminous Road Markings Solutions on Simulated Driving Performance: an Experimental Study

Driving at night or in hazardous weather could be risky if artificial lighting is inadequate or insufficient, especially when engaging curves. Innovative solutions, like Active Luminous Road Markings (ALRMs), might assist drivers and improve road safety. However, international road regulations lack consistent guidelines for ALRMs’ lighting colors and designs. We assessed different ALRMs solutions on 27 young adult drivers negotiating curves in simulated scenarios. We manipulated ALRMs appearance (color: green, red, and unlit), size (width: conventional and wide), and road geometry (curve direction: left and right and radius: 120m and 440m). After the driving simulation, participants completed a video-based perception task rating their perceived levels of risk, speed estimation, valence and arousal. The lateral position was significantly affected by ALRMs features, resulting in changes in the driving trajectory toward the right side of the vehicle’s lane in response to color, width, and curve radius. Green ALRMs showed higher variability for vehicle position, indicating reduced vehicle control. Curve radii also affected driving behavior, with narrower curves leading to reduced speeds. Subjective measures revealed that green ALRMs were perceived as brighter but less comfortable. Furthermore, curve radius significantly influenced arousal and speed estimates, with narrower curves eliciting lower activation and slower speed perception. Our study might offer valuable information that transportation engineers, road designers, and transportation psychologists can use to implement smart road technologies and improve road safety when designing new traffic lighting solutions.