Walter Workzone Interviews Stephen Solomon, OD, and Gerald Ullman, PH.D, P.E.

The focus of this interview is the warning lights on public works pickup trucks. Warning lights on public works pickup trucks are meant to enhance the safety of both drivers and work crews. The goal is to have lights thatattract the attention of drivers early on without being distracting or blinding to drivers as they approach and pass the vehicle. The best approach to determining what lights are best to use on vehicles is to make sure and follow all of the appropriate state and national guidelines and recommendations. These have been developed through a combination of objective research and field experience over the years.
In the ideal situation, a light source should accomplish several things:
– possess adequate brightness to attract the attention of drivers early on, especially on high-speed highways where a longer response distance is necessary
– have a light pulse that is “on” long enough so that drivers can estimate their distance and/or closing rate to the light source
– is not distracting or disorienting to either drivers, as they approach and pass the light source, nor to road personnel working near the light source.