DEVELOPMENT OF A PILOT SYSTEM FOR THE COLD-REGION AHS (ADVANCED CRUISE-ASSIST HIGHWAY SYSTEMS)

The Advanced Cruise-Assist Highway System for Cold Regions (Cold Region AHS) intends to assist drivers in cold, snowy regions in winter. This system offers the following two services; (1) detection of hazards ahead during snowstorm-induced poor visibility: so as to issue a warning to approaching cars by light-emitting delineators and other means; and (2) provisions of information to drivers that enables them to make appropriate travel decisions, such as to cancel the trip or make a detour during a snowstorm. The paper discusses how an animated CG experiment with subjects and a driving experiment with the help of test drivers to evaluate the effects of a light-emitting delineator-introduced danger-warning system were conducted. These experiments have yielded two results. First, compared with variable message board, danger warnings by light-emitting delineators are unlikely to go unnoticed, even in a snowstorm, and are therefore suitable for cold, snowy regions. Second, in terms of users' acceptability, the installation pattern that rated highest was a delineator installation interval of 25-30 m, visual guidance lamp height of 1.0-2.0 m, and danger warning lamp height of approximately 2.0 m.