Emergency Brake Display for

Rear End Accident Avoidance

Dr. J. Gail
Ressort Active Vehicle Safety, Emissions, Energy

Bundesanstalt fr Staenwesen
(Federal Highway Research Institute)
Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

Content
requirements for an emergency brake
display
examples
optimum solution
criteria for activation / deactivation
regulations concerned

Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Requirements for an
Emergency Brake Display (1)

fast perception (also by distracted drivers)

short reaction times
easy implementation and refitting
maximum deceleration of the following car
intuitive display (no learning necessary)
few levels

Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Requirements for an
Emergency Brake Display (2)
threshold values corresponding to real
braking behaviour
functionality for emergency braking on
low--surfaces
unambiguous display
not confusing
minimised effects of habituation
Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Example 1: Increased Light

Surface Area and Intensity
1)

2)

Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Increased Area and Intensity

pros:
intuitively
no learning process
causes adequate brakings of the following
driver (early maximum brake force)
reduced reaction times

cons:
lights have to be fixed by the drivers eyes
difficult refitting
vehicle design
Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Example 2: Integral Brakelight

3rd upper brakelight:
t1

G a dt
3

t0

( 19 levels)

too many levels

Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Example 3: Flashing Brakelights

(flashing)

Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Flashing Brakelights
reduction in reaction time: (source: DaimlerChrysler)
Effective Reaction Times with and without
Distraction

usual brakelights

usual lower brakelights +

flashing upper brakelight

without distraction
with distraction

0,5

1,5

2,5

Effective Reaction Time / s

Flashing Brakelights
pros:
good perception also by distracted drivers
reduced reaction times
easy refitting

cons:
learning process might be necessary

Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Example 4: Flashing Hazard

Warning Lights

(flashing)

Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Flashing Hazard Warning Lights

reduction in reaction time:

(source: DaimlerChrysler)

Effective Reaction Times with and without

Distraction
usual brakelights
usual brakelights + flashing
hazard warning lights
usual lower brakelights +
flashing upper brakelight
without distraction
with distraction

0,5

1,5

2,5

Effective Reaction Time / s

Flashing Hazard Warning Lights

pros:
good perception
reduced reaction times
easy refitting

cons:
change in colour
usual meaning: warning in case of:
broken down vehicle
accident
end of congestion

automatical switching only if

deceleration > 1.5 g

Example 5: Continuously Shining

Rear Direction-Indicators

pros:
easy refitting
cons:
change in colour
meaning is not intuitively clear
Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Optimum Solution (1)

keeping the colour coding:
red light = braking
flashing to achieve best perception by
distracted drivers

(3 Hz to 5 Hz flashing)
Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Optimum Solution (2)

1)
optional: increase in
surface area of lower
brakelights additional to
flashing upper brakelight
2)

(3 Hz - 5 Hz)

best perception + intuitive display

for severe braking

Criteria for Activation / Deactivation (1)

threshold deceleration 7 m / s2
emergency brake assistance system
anti-lock brake system
pressure of the brake system / brake
force
change of vehicle velocity (real
deceleration)
Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Criteria for Activation / Deactivation (2)

switching on immediately after detection of
emergency braking
switching off after
releasing the brake pedal or
after standstill of the vehicle or
detection of the end of the severe braking by a
brake assistance / anti-lock braking system

threshold velocity 5 km / h
Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt

Regulations Concerned
ECE-R 7, ECE-R 48 and Vienna Convention
red flashing upper brakelight
increase in surface area
definition of activation of brakelights
changing display during braking
fixing of switching criteria
Dr. rer. nat. Jost Gail, Referat F1, Bundesanstalt