Driver Responses to the AWARE Intrusion Alarm System

This study was conducted to assess how motorists approaching a simulated work zone with an AWARE alarm system would respond if the alarms are activated (and understand why they responded as they did), as compared to their reaction to an identical simulated work zone without an AWARE alarm activation. A demographically balanced group of 63 drivers from the Bryan-College Station, TX area was recruited to drive an instrumented vehicle around a test course inside the Texas A&M University Riverside Campus. During the traversal of the test course, study participants passed by two simulated work zones. Changes in each of the variables over that segment at each work zone were compared to determinie if the AWARE alarm resulted in more dramatic responsed by drivers, and whether those responses might adversely affect safety if occurring at real work zones. Based on study findings, the researchers recommend using the white flashing lights rather than red/amber lights on the AWARE alarm. They also recommend that the audible alarm component in the AWARE system be modified to better differentiate it from the sirens that are typically associated with police and emergency response vehicles.