Pedestrian Conspicuity: An Overview

11/02/2025 11 min Temporada 1 Episodio 1

Listen "Pedestrian Conspicuity: An Overview"

Episode Synopsis

A conversation discussing 8 research papers about pedestrian and cyclist conspicuity.At night,drivers' visual limitations are a key factor in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.One way to increase safety is to make vulnerable road users more conspicuous to drivers.Research shows that clothing withretro-reflective materials on movable joints enhances conspicuity, creating a sense of "biological motion".This "biomotion" helps drivers perceive pedestrians/cyclists at much greater distances than vests.Benefits of biomotion clothing are evident evenin cluttered environments, with glare, and for drivers of all ages and visual abilities.Studies indicate thatpedestrians often overestimate their own visibility at night.Cyclists often rely on lights to increase their conspicuity.Research indicates thatcomfort and style are often prioritized over visibility when cyclists and runners choose clothing.These studies are what lead to the creation of the high visibility apparel brand ReflecToes (ReflecToes.com)