PURPOSES : This study analyzes the effectiveness of different types of children's safety devices in a school zone. The analysis targets are yellow carpet type A (installed up to the floor and wall) and yellow carpet type B (installed only on the floor).
METHODS : Based on field data collected at a school zone in Seoul, statistical tests were conducted to compare three different pairs of data: (1) none vs. yellow carpet type A, (2) none vs. yellow carpet type B, and (3) yellow carpet types A and B. The test employed two different measures: (1) the level of drivers’ eye attention and (2) the level of the vehicle deceleration rate. The study utilized software named "Visual Attention Software" to quantify the level of drivers’ eye attention at the location where children pedestrians were waiting for a green signal. It also utilized the Vegas (pro 17) image processing software to reduce the cruising speed data frame-by-frame from the video streaming data. The image data used in this study were collected with (1) camcorders attached to a test vehicle and (2) a drone aerial imaging technique.
RESULTS : It was found that the level of the drivers’ eye attention level improved in the daytime when either of yellow carpet types A and B was placed; moreover, the safety enhancement effects were statistically identical. However, in nighttime, the measures only improved when the yellow carpet type A was placed. It was learned that yellow carpet type A provides significant safety effects according to both measures, i.e., the level of drivers’ eye attention and cruising speed.
CONCLUSIONS : The test results suggest that the yellow carpet type A should be installed in school zones to maximize the safety effects of yellow carpets.