https://highways.dot.gov/research

HUMAN FACTORS TEAM | biannual highlights

Exploring Human Behavior

Safety R&D Program

WINTER 2023 | VOLUME 17

Hot Off the Press

TRAVEL LANE

Current Research:

 Research Key Automated Vehicle (AV) Safety Issues for Transportation Systems 

Management and Operations has finished data collection for the Effects of Work 

Zone Infrastructure on the Transition to Manual Driving field study. This study assesses 

the potential for work zone infrastructure to safely assist in transitioning vehicle 

control from an automated system to the human driver in advance of work zones. 

The research team started data collection for the Impact of Rainy Weather Conditions 

on Automated Driving System (ADS) Equipped Vehicles in Mixed Vehicle Fleet Traffic

field study in fall 2022. This study evaluates the effects of adverse weather on drivers 

using an ADS-equipped vehicle on an offsite track modified to simulate rainfall. 

This project is led by Michelle Arnold.

 Investigate Key AV Human Factors Safety Issues Related to Infrastructure 

began field data collection in fall 2022 for the Human Factors Team for the 

Comparing Intersection Crossing Behavior of Human Drivers and Automated Vehicles 

Below and Above 10 mph study. This study will examine how in vehicle traffic 

signal countdown information influences drivers’ behavior in the dilemma zone. 

Human drivers’ behavior will be compared with that of a low-speed automated 

shuttle traveling on the same public roads. This project is led by Jesse Eisert.

 Guidelines on Variable Message Signs (VMS) Messaging During Nonrecurring 

Events completed data collection and analysis for the Variable Message Signs (VMS) 

Messaging miniSimTM study. The Human Factors Team is developing a guidebook 

with a decision tree, a technical report, and a fact sheet from findings. This study 

aims to investigate the effects of different configurations of VMS messaging on 

driver decisionmaking in a simulated roadway. This project is led by Michelle Arnold.

 The Traffic Control Devices (TCD) Pooled Fund Study (PFS) Consortium Annual 

Meeting was held in San Diego, CA, on September 14 and 15, 2022. PFS members 

from across the country met in person and virtually to discuss a new charter and 

select future research topics. Laura Mero leads this PFS and the following projects:

» The Evaluation of Advisory Exit and Ramp Speed Signs project started in 

summer 2022. The work plan is finalized, and the Human Factors Team is working 

on the research methodology. This project aims to evaluate and produce 

uniform recommendations to designers for advisory exit and ramp speed 

warning signs, including the basis for speed designation, the use of “exit” versus 

“ramp designations,” the effects of sign placement, and the optimization of 

sign sequence.

» The Pedestrian Signing at Unsignalized Crossings project began in summer 

2022 and is in its early stages. The goal of the study is to use human factors 

experiments to test various static regulatory and warning pedestrian signing 

options at unsignalized crossings.

Brian Philips, Human Factors Team Lead 

brian.philips@dot.gov, 202-493-3468

Michelle Arnold, michelle.arnold@dot.gov, 

202-493-3990

Ann Do, ann.do@dot.gov, 202-493-3319

Jesse Eisert, jesse.eisert@dot.gov, 

202-493-3284

Laura Mero, laura.mero@dot.gov, 

202-493-3377

Leidos, Human Factors onsite support

Textron Systems, Highway Driving Simulator 

onsite support

Meet the Team

Weaver, S. M., S.-F. Chao, and B. H. Philips. 2022. 

Driver Adaptation to Vehicle Automation: The 

Effect of Driver Assistance Systems on Driving 

Performance and System Monitoring. Report No. 

FHWA-HRT-22-072. Washington, DC: Federal 

Highway Administration. https://www.fhwa.

dot.gov/publications/research/safety/22072/

index.cfm, last accessed November 2, 2022.

Federal Highway Administration. 2022. 

Enhancing Conspicuity for Standard Signs and 

Retroreflectivity Strips on Posts. Washington, DC: 

Federal Highway Administration. https://

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/

safety/22066/index.cfm, last accessed 

November 2, 2022.

Weaver, S., J. Calvo, A. Ahmed, and J. Eisert. 

2022. Ensuring Cooperative Driving Automation 

(CDA) and Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) 

Safety Through Infrastructure. Report No. 

FHWA-HRT-22-085. Washington, DC: Federal 

Highway Administration. https://highways.

dot.gov/research/publications/safety/FHWAHRT-22-085, last accessed November 2, 2022.
biannual highlights

https://highways.dot.gov/research

FAST LANE

THE ROAD AHEAD

Looking forward

 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting. The 

102nd Annual TRB Meeting will be held January 8–12, 2023, 

in Washington, DC. The Human Factors Team will attend and 

exhibit the latest research tools and results from different 

experimental studies.

 Enhancing Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Detection and 

Volume Data Through Advanced Imaging Techniques 

project finished the part of this project that focused on 

thermal infrared sensors. The technical brief summarizing 

the findings is expected to be published in spring 2023. This 

project will now evaluate light detection and ranging (LiDAR) 

sensors to detect VRUs. Overall, this project is investigating 

the VRU detection capabilities of the infrared sensors, LiDAR, 

and the two combined through sensor fusion, as well as the 

applicability of the output for evaluating VRU exposure. This 

project is led by Laura Mero.

 Human Factors Issues Related to Truck Platooning 

Operations has completed data analysis for both the 

first and second Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 

miniSimTM experiments, evaluating signing on truck 

platooning signs. The Human Factors Team is developing 

the final report, which is scheduled to be published 

in summer 2023. This project is investigating drivers’ 

behavior and reactions to simulated automated truck 

platoons in various conditions. This project is led by 

Michelle Arnold.

MILEPOSTS

Recent activity 

 Human Factors Laboratory Tours. On August 9, 2022, 

FHWA Acting Administrator Stephanie Pollack, former 

Acting Executive Director Mayela Sosa, and other Office 

of the Federal Highway Administrator leaders toured 

the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) 

(figure 2). During their tour, the Human Factors Team 

presented the mission and current stage of FHWA’s VRU 

research and demonstrated the Human Factors Team’s 

newly renovated Virtual Reality (VR) Laboratory as a 

cutting-edge VRU research tool.

TRAVEL LANE (continued)

» The Evaluation of Additional Alternative Arrow Types 

and Sizes for Overhead Arrow per-Lane (OAPL) Guide 

Signs project completed data analysis, and the Human 

Factors Team presented the project findings to the TCD PFS 

group on August 30, 2022 (figure 1). This project examines 

partial-width OAPL sign designs and arrow sizes and the 

effects these characteristics have on driver comprehension.

 Exploring Potential Contributors to Racial and 

Socioeconomic Disparities in Pedestrian and 

Bicyclist Morbidity and Mortality project kicked off in 

November 2022 with an anticipated completion date 

of November 2024. This project will assess structural 

causes and potential strategies to address why 

underrepresented populations—particularly people 

experiencing homelessness and people who have been 

displaced—are overrepresented as victims in serious 

injury and fatal pedestrian and bicyclist crashes. This 

project is led by Jesse Eisert and Anthony Boutros from 

the Office of Safety.

Figure 1. Photograph. A researcher testing the OAPL visual stimulus.

Source: FHWA.

Figure 2. Photograph. Acting Administrator Pollack and former Acting Executive 

Director Sosa touring the Human Factors VR Laboratory.

Source: FHWA.
biannual highlights

FAST LANE

On September 13, 2022, Brian Philips led 

a tour for Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Research and Technology Robert Hampshire, 

and on September 15, Jesse Eisert led a 

tour for staff of the Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Research and Technology. They 

demonstrated the capabilities of the FHWA 

Human Factors Team’s cutting-edge VR 

laboratory to advance VRU research.

The Human Factors Laboratory has hosted 

several other tours over summer 2022, 

including the Office of Acquisitions and 

Grants Management, interns for the National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and 

members of the Virtual Open Innovation 

Collaborative Environment for Safety team.

 VR Laboratory Upgrade Completed. 

The Human Factors Team finished 

expanding and upgrading the VR 

Laboratory. Upgrades include a new 

omnidirectional treadmill to facilitate 

locomotion, enhanced tracking VR 

headsets, and a large virtual walking space for unobstructed movement, allowing for 2 12-ft lanes and sidewalk space to 

advance VRU research. Contact Brian Philips for more information.

 Highway Driving Simulator Upgrade Completed. The staff supporting the TFHRC’s Highway Driving Simulator finished visual 

system upgrades to this full-scale device. New enhanced features include 4K projectors to increase graphical fidelity and the 

latest rendering software and hardware to produce more realistic simulations that will increase the fidelity of future human 

factors driving research. Contact Michelle Arnold for more details.

 2022 Intelligent Transportation Systems World Congress. Human Factors Team representatives, led by Jesse Eisert, attended 

the 2022 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) World Congress September 18–22 in Los Angeles, CA. The team demonstrated 

FHWA’s VRU safety research through an interactive demonstration with a VR bike simulator and head-mounted display, as well 

as an articulated pedestrian dummy at a crosswalk equipped with infrastructure-based sensors (figure 3).

MILEPOSTS (continued)

FHWA-HRT-23-018

HRDS-30/8-22(WEB)E

Recommended citation: Federal Highway Administration, 

Human Factors Team Biannual Highlights – Winter 

(Washington, DC: 2022) https://doi.org/10.21949/1521930Source: FHWA.

Figure 3. Photograph. Members of the Human Factors Team demonstrating their laboratory’s VR bicycle 

simulator at the 2022 ITS World Congress in Los Angeles, CA.