Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of redundant brake light configurations in reducing reaction times during simulated driving tasks.
Background: Rear-end collisions constitute about 29% of all vehicular accidents and previous research suggests that incorporating redundant visual cues indicating a leading vehicle is stopping can enhance perception-reaction times, particularly in hand or finger response tasks. However, this effect has not been examined with foot/pedal responses in driving tasks, which engage different muscle groups and neural pathways, typically exhibit slower reaction times. Method: Twenty-four drivers participated in a simulated car-following scenario. Participants were instructed to maintain acceleration and then respond by releasing the accelerator and depressing the brake pedal when the lead vehicle's brake lights activated. The study compared a traditional rear light setup with two redundant configurations featuring an "X"- shape motif, similar to the 2023/2024 Jeep Renegade model. Results: The findings revealed that both accelerator release times and braking reaction times were significantly faster with the rear light with redundant visual cues signaling braking action compared to the traditional setup. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that redundant rear light configuration can effectively enhance driver response times, potentially mitigating the risk of rear-end collisions. Application: Introducing redundant rear light systems in vehicles has the potential to decrease brake reaction times and lessen the severity of rear-end collisions, contributing to safer driving conditions. To fully understand these benefits, further investigation into the RSE effect through real-world driving studies is necessary, offering valuable insights for the design of vehicle rear lights cover.