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Improvements in road security with optical systems and natural light

Mejoras en seguridad vial con sistemas ópticos y luz natural

  • The impact of new technologies in road safety focusing on vehicles and infrastructure
  • Published:
Securitas Vialis

Abstract

The application of new technology to vertical traffic panel is continuously increasing. The actual technology has not resolved some vision problems in road traffic when sun glares drivers; this is especially significant in vertical panels and also in tunnel entrances. Natural light guided with this new optical device is enough to make a panel visible in the worst condition. A luminance value of 800 cd/m2 is obtained at a solar elevation of 30° on driver eye at 25 m distance this assure legibility of the legend in the worst condition. There are several situations where the correct use of sunlight can be an advanced tool. For example, tunnel entrance during day is always a risky zone due to the adaptation of eye to different luminances. Other case is displays with east or west orientations which are signalling exit in highways. The third example is dangerous curves in mountain roads where the sun glare can make the driver lost de road vision. We propose an optical device to solve this question with the use of natural light guiding system.

Resumen

La aplicación de las nuevas tecnologías a los paneles luminosos de señalización está aumentando continuamente. La tecnología actual no ha resuelto algunos problemas de visión cuando el sol deslumbra a los conductores; esto afecta especialmente a los paneles luminosos y a los situados a la entrada de los túneles. La luz natural con este nuevo dispositivo óptico la luz natural es suficiente para que un panel luminoso sea visible incluso en las condiciones más adversas. Un valor de luminosidad de 800 cd/m2 se obtiene con una elevación solar de 30°; el ojo del conductor en condiciones adversas asegura la legibilidad de las inscripciones a 25 metros de distancia. Existe un buen número de situaciones donde el correcto uso de la luz solar puede ser una herramienta avanzada. Por ejemplo, la entrada a un túnel durante el día es siempre una zona de peligro ya que el ojo debe adaptarse a diferentes grados de luminosidad. Otro caso son las señales situadas hacia el este o el oeste que señalizan las salidas de las carreteras. El tercer ejemplo son las curvas peligrosas en carreteras de montaña, donde el reflejo del sol puede hacer que el conductor pierda de vista la carretera. Proponemos la utilización de un dispositivo óptico para resolver los problemas derivados del uso de sistemas de señalización con luz natural.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament of Optics, Faculty of Physics, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Eusebio Bernabeu

  2. Departament of Optics, Faculty of Optics, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Daniel Vazquez-Molini & Antonio A. Fernandez-Balbuena

Authors
  1. Eusebio Bernabeu
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  2. Daniel Vazquez-Molini
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  3. Antonio A. Fernandez-Balbuena
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eusebio Bernabeu.

Additional information

This work is associated to the program SEGVAUTO P2009/DPI-1509 of Comunidad de Madrid.

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Bernabeu, E., Vazquez-Molini, D. & Fernandez-Balbuena, A.A. Improvements in road security with optical systems and natural light. Securitas Vialis 4, 137–142 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12615-012-9063-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12615-012-9063-y

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