Effect of Flashing Brake Lights on Drivers\' Brake Reaction Time ‎and Release Gas Pedal Time

Objective: It is believed that drivers play a crucial role in accidents. Paying attention to brake lights, a driver may find out about danger and react. Rear-end collision accidents refer to the part of the accidents due to driver inattention or slow reaction. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dynamic flashing brake lights (7 Hz) on drivers' brake reaction time using the driving simulator. Materials & Methods: This experimental study was done on 46 volunteer drivers (10 female and 36 male). After verification of drivers' vision health by an optometrist (10/10 complete and non-color blindness) and completion of demographic questionnaire, participants drove for an hour under day and night conditions on a driving simulator system with standard brake lights and dynamic flashing brake lights. Results indicate that as an age of drivers increased one year, brake reaction time decreased 11.585 ms. Women had slower brake reaction time than men (75.52 ms). Results showed any significant relationship between driving condition and brake reaction time. Computer driving gamers had shorter mean reaction times in comparison with non-game players. The time elapsed since taking driving license has not any significant effect on reaction time. Using flashing brake lights, reduced brake reaction time of driver as 323.42 ms (p< 0.000). Conclusion: Current research using dynamic flashing brake light with a flashing frequency of 7 Hz showed that flashing brake light reduced the brake reaction time significantly. This reduction is equivalent to 10.78 m distances at speeds about, 120 km/h or 7.19 m at 80 km/h.