Driving Simulator Evaluation of a Vehicle Rear-MountedHeavy Braking Light With and Without Distraction

Rear-end collisions comprise a large proportion of all vehicle crashes. A variant of the standard centre high mounted stop light (CHMSL) that flashes under conditions of heavy braking was developed to reduce the incidence and severity of rear-end collisions. The developer of the Heavy Braking Light commissioned MUARC to conduct a driving simulator evaluation of the effectiveness of the Heavy Braking Light. Forty-two participants completed a series of simulator drives that were designed to examine whether participants’ braking performance under certain conditions was more effective in response to a heavily braking vehicle fitted with the Heavy Braking Light compared with a heavily braking vehicle fitted with a standard CHMSL. Among other things, it was found that, relative to the CHMSL condition, participants reacted by braking in a shorter time at an intermediate headway to the Heavy Braking Light, and braked harder in response to the Heavy Braking Light at both a near and intermediate headway. The results suggest that the Heavy Braking Light is a device that, through widespread use, may contribute to a reduction in the incidence and severity of rear-end collisions.