Acceptance of New Driver-to-Driver Communication Tools for School Buses: Effects of Text, Color, and Messaging

In this exploratory study on school bus lighting, two surveys were undertaken: one targeting school and daycare staff as well as parents of schoolchildren, and the other aimed at general drivers. Our results show that many Korean drivers are not familiar with the purpose of the existing lights on school buses, however, when exposed to advanced lighting concepts using variable message signs (VMS) and road projections through surveys, notable improvements in understanding of these warnings lights were measured and compliance was increased to 77%, from a reported 60% with the existing lighting. It was also found that textual-based systems were more effective than those without text. These results underscore a compelling argument for implementing variable message signs or road projections as tools for driver-to-driver communication. Such measures have the potential to enhance safety and foster compliance with traffic regulations in the vicinity of school buses, or potentially other, road situations.