Effectiveness of smart horizontal markings on drivers’ behavior along horizontal curves: A driving simulation study

• Published in: Accident analysis and prevention Vol. 219; p. 108086
• Main Authors: Angioi, Francesco, de Oña, Juan, Díaz-Piedra, Carolina, de Oña, Rocío, Di Stasi, Leandro L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2025
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - prevention & control; Adult; Automobile Driving - psychology; Color; Computer Simulation; Driving behavior; Driving simulation; Environment Design; Female; Human factor; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Road safety; Safety; Smart Road Technology; Young Adult; Driving behavior; Driving simulation; Road safety; Smart Road Technology; Human factor
• ISSN: 0001-4575; 1879-2057; 1879-2057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2025.108086

•We tested the effect of photoluminescent road markings (PRMs) on driving behavior.•PRMs induce drivers to adopt greater distance to the edge line.•PRMs may help prevent run-off road events.•PRMs do not lead to a significant increase in the speed (speed consistency). Photoluminescent road markings (PRMs) are a potentially useful visual guidance technology for improving road safety in low-visibility conditions. However, the effectiveness of PRMs requires further research. Moreover, road infrastructure regulations lack guidelines for PRMs design. Here, we aimed at determining the effects of different PRMs colors and widths on transversal and longitudinal driving behavioral indices. We conducted a simulation-based 3x2x2 within-subjects experiment (PRM: unlit vs. smart green vs. smart red; marking width: conventional vs. wide; curve direction: left vs. right). We designed six two-lane rural highway scenarios with nighttime light conditions and no traffic. Each scenario included twenty-four horizontal curves with radii ranging from 120 to 440 m (recommended speed range 60–90 km/h). Thirty participants (age range 20–54 years) drove a semi-dynamic driving simulator for about one hour. Our results showed that the presence of PRMs affected the drivers’ transversal behavior. The smart markings induced drivers to keep greater lateral distances from the road edge line than unlit ones along right curves. Smart green markings showed higher variability for vehicle positioning, indicating lower vehicle control. Wider-than-normal markings induced users to drive closer to the edge line at the Tangent-to-Spiral section. Overall, our study showed that smart markings - both green and red - induce the driver to “shy away” from the edge line, thus representing a potential tool for preventing roadway departure events. Further studies are expected to confirm these results by focusing on different PRM layouts, traffic, and weather conditions.