scholarly journals Model for Predicting Traffic Signs Functional Service Life – The Republic of Croatia Case Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Babić ◽  
Darko Babić ◽  
Dragana Macura
Keyword(s):  
Service Life ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Traffic Sign ◽  
Traffic Signs ◽  
Yellow Colour ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Road Users ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Materials Used

Traffic signs are the basic elements of communication between the relevant road authorities and road users. They manage, regulate, inform and warn road users to ensure their safe movement throughout transport networks. Traffic signs must be timely visible to all traffic participants in all weather and traffic conditions in order to fulfil their function, which means they must have satisfactory retroreflection properties. This paper presents a research of the deterioration of traffic signs retroreflection. The aim of this article is to develop models that will effectively enable predicting the retroreflection of traffic signs and thus optimize the maintenance activities and replacement of road signs to increase road safety. The research included measurements of retroreflection of retroreflective material Classes I and II (white, red and blue colour) and Class III (red and yellow colour). Based on the collected data from the City of Zagreb (Republic of Croatia), the authors developed the models to estimate the functional service life of certain colours and materials used to make traffic signs. Considering that the average coefficient of determination for all the models is between 0.55-0.60, they present an effective tool in the traffic sign maintenance system.

scholarly journals THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAFFIC SIGN COMPREHENSION AND RISKY TRAFFIC BEHAVIORS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behaviors ◽  
Traffic Sign ◽  
Traffic Signs ◽  
Driving Experience ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Positive Behaviors ◽  
Driver's License ◽  
Unsafe Behaviors ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Relationship

The current study investigates the relationship between risky traffic behaviors and traffic sign comprehension (TSC). It is hypothesized that, as traffic sign comprehension increases, unsafe traffic behaviors decrease. The data were collected online through Qualtrics from 275 participants, 177 of whom were drivers. The questionnaire package included 25 open-ended traffic sign questions, Pedestrian Behavior Scale, Mini-Driver Behavior Questionnaire with 3 additional aggressive violation items, and a demographic information form. The results indicated that TSC was significantly related to reported driver errors and lapses after controlling for age and gender. In addition, pedestrian-related TSC was significantly related to reported pedestrian transgressions, lapses, aggressive behaviors, and positive behaviors after controlling for age, gender, driver's license, and driving experience. Generally, the results were consistent with the expectations: the better that road users (drivers and pedestrians) understand traffic signs, the fewer drivers and pedestrians reported unsafe behaviors (errors and lapses for drivers; transgressions, aggressive behaviors, and lapses for pedestrians), and the more pedestrians reported positive behaviors. This finding can be explained by the fact that as the need of people to understand traffic signs increases, they avoid behaviors that will lead to accidents in traffic. For this reason, it can be predicted that comprehensively introducing children to traffic signs from an early age will contribute positively to road safety.

scholarly journals Assessment of Traffic Sign Comprehension Levels among Drivers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Taleb M. Al-Rousan ◽  
Abdullahi A. Umar
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Driver Education ◽  
Traffic Sign ◽  
Traffic Signs ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Smooth Flow ◽  
Traffic Violations

Road traffic signs are part of the road infrastructure components meant to ensure the safe use of roads by motorists and pedestrians alike. A good knowledge and comprehension of road signs helps ensure smooth flow of traffic, improves safety for other motorists and provides drivers with good reaction time to comply with the message dictated by the signs. Abu Dhabi, being the capital of the UAE, brings together people from all over the world for work, business or tourism. Abu Dhabi has quality roads and traffic signage together with an efficient police force that enforces adherence to traffic rules. Despite all these and the reduced fatalities in absolute terms, traffic violations have been increasing exponentially, resulting in five million traffic fines in 2019 for a population of about 2.9 million inhabitants. This study sought to assess motorists’ comprehension of the various traffic signs used across the UAE. The results of the survey (N = 200) revealed that the drivers were able to correctly identify 77% of the road signs in the survey. It was also found that the respondents failed to correctly identify traffic signs within the specific category referred to as “advance warning signs”. Respondents’ education, nationality, gender, and marital status did not have any statistically significant effects on the results compared to earlier studies. It is recommended that more attention be focused on driver education and training.

scholarly journals The Impact of Traffic Sign Quality on the Frequency of Traffic Accidents

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-558
Author(s):  
Marija Ferko ◽  
Ana Stažnik ◽  
Maja Modrić ◽  
Helena Dijanić
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Traffic Sign ◽  
Traffic Signs ◽  
The Road ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Annual Average Daily Traffic ◽  
Low Visibility ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

As part of an overall traffic signalling system, traffic signs warn the traffic participants, give information about the restrictions, prohibitions and obligations and provide additional information needed for a safe and undisturbed traffic flow. The traffic sign quality is expressed by its retroreflection and it is particularly pronounced in conditions of reduced visibility. The aim of this paper is to analyse how traffic signs quality affects the frequency of traffic accidents in low visibility conditions. For this purpose, traffic accidents and the quality of traffic signs were analysed on 130 state roads in the Republic of Croatia between 2013 and 2015. In the analysis several variables were used: the number of traffic accidents occurred under reduced visibility conditions, length of the road, AADT (Annual Average Daily Traffic) and the number of traffic signs that do not meet the minimum prescribed values of retroreflection. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between the accidents and unsatisfactory traffic signs, i.e. that with the increase in the number of traffic sings that do not have a satisfactory level of retroreflection, an increase in the number of accidents in reduced visibility conditions is expected.

The Impact of Road Familiarity on the Perception of Traffic Signs – Eye Tracking Case Study

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Babic ◽  
Darko Babic ◽  
Andelko Šcukanec
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Traffic Sign ◽  
Traffic Signs ◽  
Driving Experience ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
On The Road ◽  
The Impact

Traffic sign visual information provides road users with the basic instructions regarding route selection, safety at intersections, warnings on physical obstacles on the road and safe route marking. The use of sophisticated eye tracking systems is an efficient way to analyse the influence of traffic signs on drivers’ behaviour. In this paper, the drivers’ perception of traffics signs has been analysed using such a system. The aim of this paper is to determine how the perception of traffic signs changes according to the frequency of driving on a specific route or according to the route familiarity. The results show that the drivers’ perception of traffic signs declines as they get familiar with the route and road conditions. In addition, older drivers having more driving experience perceive fewer signs and elements from the environment because they are often led by their own experience and knowledge, so they do not need the same amount of information as compared to younger drivers.

The Traffic Sign Detection Algorithm Based on Region of Interest Extraction and Double Filter

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongxian Yu ◽  
Jiatao Kang ◽  
Zaihui Cao ◽  
Neha Jain
Keyword(s):  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
Light Filter ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Detection Accuracy ◽  
Traffic Light ◽  
Traffic Sign ◽  
Traffic Signs ◽  
Sign Detection ◽  
Traffic Sign Detection

In order to solve the current traffic sign detection technology due to the interference of various complex factors, it is difficult to effectively carry out the correct detection of traffic signs, and the robustness is weak, a traffic sign detection algorithm based on the region of interest extraction and double filter is designed.First, in order to reduce environmental interference, the input image is preprocessed to enhance the main color of each logo.Secondly, in order to improve the extraction ability Of Regions Of Interest, a Region Of Interest (ROI) detector based on Maximally Stable Extremal Regions (MSER) and Wave Equation (WE) was defined, and candidate Regions were selected through the ROI detector.Then, an effective HOG (Histogram of Oriented Gradient) descriptor is introduced as the detection feature of traffic signs, and SVM (Support Vector Machine) is used to classify them into traffic signs or background.Finally, the context-aware filter and the traffic light filter are used to further identify the false traffic signs and improve the detection accuracy.In the GTSDB database, three kinds of traffic signs, which are indicative, prohibited and dangerous, are tested, and the results show that the proposed algorithm has higher detection accuracy and robustness compared with the current traffic sign recognition technology.

scholarly journals Detecting Change between Urban Road Environments along a Route Based on Static Road Object Occurrences

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3666
Author(s):  
Zoltán Fazekas ◽  
László Gerencsér ◽  
Péter Gáspár
Keyword(s):  
Change Detection ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Recognition System ◽  
Driver Assistance Systems ◽  
Traffic Sign ◽  
Traffic Signs ◽  
Safety Risk ◽  
Urban Road ◽  
Environment Type ◽  
Cusum Method

For over a decade, urban road environment detection has been a target of intensive research. The topic is relevant for the design and implementation of advanced driver assistance systems. Typically, embedded systems are deployed in these for the operation. The environments can be categorized into road environment-types. Abrupt transitions between these pose a traffic safety risk. Road environment-type transitions along a route manifest themselves also in changes in the distribution of traffic signs and other road objects. Can the placement and the detection of traffic signs be modelled jointly with an easy-to-handle stochastic point process, e.g., an inhomogeneous marked Poisson process? Does this model lend itself for real-time application, e.g., via analysis of a log generated by a traffic sign detection and recognition system? How can the chosen change detector help in mitigating the traffic safety risk? A change detection method frequently used for Poisson processes is the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method. Herein, this method is tailored to the specific stochastic model and tested on realistic logs. The use of several change detectors is also considered. Results indicate that a traffic sign-based road environment-type change detection is feasible, though it is not suitable for an immediate intervention.

scholarly journals Shining Light on Retroreflectivity: Perceived Brightness of Surfaces with Varying Reflective Properties

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1815-1819
Author(s):  
Savana L. King ◽  
Ellen C. Szubski ◽  
Richard A. Tyrrell
Keyword(s):  
Entrance Angle ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Vulnerable Road Users

Typical road users appear not to understand retroreflectivity despite nightly exposure to retroreflective materials like road signs. A critical benefit of retroreflective materials is a robustness to changes in entrance angle, the angle at which light strikes the material. This study aims to measure observers’ perceived brightness judgments of surfaces representing three types of reflection (diffuse, specular, and retroreflective) when viewed under manipulations of entrance angle. Perceived brightness will be assessed before and during a demonstration including illumination from a source positioned near the observer’s eyes. Prior to the demonstration, observers are hypothesized to predict specular and retroreflective surfaces will have a consistent brightness despite changes in entrance angle. Seeing the retroreflectivity demo is expected to result in increased perceived brightness of only the retroreflective surfaces in the more extreme entrance angle conditions. Watching visual demonstrations of reflection, however, is expected to produce an enhanced appreciation that retroreflective (but not specular or diffuse) surfaces remain bright despite large changes in entrance angle. This evidence may eventually increase demand for retroreflective markings by vulnerable road users.

scholarly journals Investigation into Interactions between Accident Consequences and Traffic Signs: A Bayesian Bivariate Tobit Quantile Regression Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuecai Xu ◽  
Željko Šarić
Keyword(s):  
Quantile Regression ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Close Relation ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Material Damage ◽  
Accident Rate ◽  
Traffic Signs ◽  
Accident Severity ◽  
Severity Levels ◽  
The Republic

This study intended to investigate the interactions between accident severity levels and traffic signs in state roads located in Croatia and explore the correlation between accident severity levels and heterogeneity attributed to unobserved factors. The data from 460 state roads between 2012 and 2016 were collected from Traffic Accident Database System maintained by the Republic of Croatia Ministry of the Interior. To address the correlation and heterogeneity, Bayesian bivariate Tobit quantile regression models were proposed, in which the bivariate framework addressed the correlation of residuals with Bayesian approach, while the Tobit quantile regression model accommodated the heterogeneity due to unobserved factors. By comparing the Bayesian bivariate Tobit quantile and mean regression models, the proposed quantile models showed priority to mean model. Results revealed that (1) low visibility and the number of invalid traffic signs per km increased the accident rate of material damage, death, or injury; (2) average speed limit exhibited a close relation with accident rate; and (3) the number of mandatory signs was more likely to reduce the accident rate of material damage, while the number of warning signs was significant for accident rate of death or injury.

High Strength Conductors and Structural Materials for High Field Magnets

MRS Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (17) ◽  
pp. 1233-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Han ◽  
Rongmei Niu ◽  
Jun Lu ◽  
Vince Toplosky
Keyword(s):  
Service Life ◽  
High Field ◽  
Lattice Distortion ◽  
Mechanical Load ◽  
Cold Deformation ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Structural Support ◽  
Metal Metal ◽  
Lattice Distortions ◽  
Materials Used

ABSTRACTOne important approach to increasing High magnetic fields (HMF) beyond what is now possible is to improve the properties of various composite materials used as both conductors and structural support. Typical conductors for high field magnets are Cu-based metal-metal composites. To achieve high mechanical strength, these composites are fabricated by cold deformation, which introduces high densities of interfaces along with lattice distortions. During the operation of a magnet, mechanical load, high magnetic field, extreme temperatures and other stressors are imposed on the materials, causing them to be further “processed”. The composite conductors in a magnet, for example, may undergo high temperatures, which reduce lattice distortions or soften the material. At the same time, HMF may increase lattice distortion, leading to a complex change in interface characteristics. Both the mechanical properties of the conductors, like the tensile and yield strength, and the electric conductivity of the composites are closely connected to changes in lattice distortion and interface density. Understanding these changes helps us to assure that materials can operate in optimized conditions during most of magnets’ service life. Maximizing service life is critical, given the high cost of building and operating high field magnets. The goal of this paper is to 1) show our understanding of changes that occur in the properties of selected materials during the fabrication and under HMF and 2) to discuss how those changes relate to the microstructure of these materials and consequently to the service life of high field magnets.

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