Interventions for increasing pedestrian and cyclist visibility for the prevention of death and injuries

Kwan I, Mapstone J

Summary

Increasing pedestrian and cyclist visibility to prevent deaths and injuries

Pedestrians and cyclists are often killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes, especially in the developing world where walking and bicycling are essential modes of transportation. In the UK, one in three road traffic fatalities is a pedestrian or cyclist. Usually, in these crashes drivers fail to see the pedestrian or cyclist until it is too late. In recent years reflective garments, flashing lights, and other visibility aids have been used to try to prevent crashes.

The authors of this Cochrane review looked for studies which showed how effective visibility aids are for protecting pedestrians and cyclists. They focussed their search on a type of study called a randomized controlled trial, which compares two similar groups of people who only differ on the issue being studied, for instance, the rate of crashes in communities with and without introduction of visibility aids. The authors did not find any studies which compared number of crashes but they did find 37 studies which compared driver detection of people with or without visibility aids. These studies showed that fluorescent materials in yellow, red and orange improved driver detection during the day; while lamps, flashing lights and retroreflective materials in red and yellow or in a 'biomotion' configuration helped at night. Although these visibility measures help drivers see pedestrians and cyclists, more research should be done to determine whether the increased visibility actually does prevent deaths and serious injuries.