I read an article recently about conspicuity for police officers
working on the highway. It suggested that the reflective vests and
jackets that we use to stand out and be identified by drivers at night
were not very effective. A driver had to approach closely
when using low beam headlights to see a reflection, and the reflections
that were seen did not immediately suggest that what the driver was
looking at was a pedestrian.
The problem with low beam headlights is that they initially illuminate
the area of a pedestrians feet and by the time they reach the mid and
upper body, it is too late for the driver to react to what they are
seeing.
Tests in a driving simulator produced an even more surprising result.
60% of drivers who were warned that a pedestrian would appear during the
simulation failed to see them on the roadway in time to avoid colliding
with them. Often drivers report that the first
indication that they had of a pedestrian being present on the highway
is when they heard the sound of the collision with them.
Looking at the view from the pedestrian’s perspective, researchers found
that pedestrians all felt that they were more visible to drivers than
they actually were.
From Neil Arason’s book No Accident: Eliminating Injury and Death on Canadian Roads:
An Australian study found that drivers noticed only 5 percent of
plain-clothed pedestrians in the most challenging conditions (low beams,
black clothing, glare), whereas they recognized 100 percent of
pedestrians who wore reflective clothing in areas
where their body moved.
The bottom line? If you are a pedestrian on the highway at night, wear
something light colored with reflective markings in the places that your
body moves such as wrists and ankles. Biological motion is very
effective protection.
Use the sidewalk, or if a sidewalk is not present, stay as far to the
left of the roadway as possible. These rules cover all pedestrians in
British Columbia.
Never cross the highway unless you can clear the travelled portion well
before the approching vehicle nears you unless you are certain that the
driver will stop. Better still, wait until the driver sees you and has
stopped.
If you are a driver that is purchasing a new vehicle, consider one with
forward collision warning or automatic emergency braking. These systems,
properly used and maintained will help you avoid crashes.
Walk to stay alive. Regardless of being right or wrong in terms of right
of way, the pedestrian is always the loser in a collision.
Story URL: https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/pedestrians/pedestrian-visibility-night
Constable Tim Schewe (Retired)
DriveSmartBC: Where better than average road users satisfy their curiosity.