초록
Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate several factors that affect the drivers' turn signal light usage. Background: If drivers' use of the turn signals increases, the traffic accident rate can be significantly lowered. Many countries are making a variety of efforts to increase the driver's use of turn signals. However, studies on factors affecting the use of turn signal lights have not yet been conducted in various ways. Method: Observational study and questionnaire study were conducted together. In the observational study, we observed how the turn signal usage rate varied by six variables; four situations in which the driver should use the turn signal lights, the driving time, the driving location, the driver's use of the safety seat belt, the driver's sex and whether or not the vehicle in front of the observed vehicle uses turn signal lights. In the questionnaire study, participants were asked two questions; of the situations in which the driver must use the turn signal lights, the situation with the highest priority and why not using the turn signal lights. Results: As a result of observational study, the usage rate of turn signal light was 67.3%. According to the result of the Chi-square test, the usage rate of the turn signal light was different according to five factors among the six factors. There was no difference in the usage rate of turn signal light according to driver's sex. The results of the questionnaire study showed that the priority of using turn signal lights was lowest in the situation of lane change and that the most important reason why drivers do not use turn signal lights was that there is no rear vehicle. Conclusion: According to the observational study, drivers' turn signal light usage was variable due to various factors. This may be because many drivers do not use the turn signal lights unconsciously and tend to use the turn signal lights selectively depending on the circumstances. The tendency to use no turn signal in the absence of the following vehicle, as shown in the results of the survey, also mean that drivers do not unconsciously use turn signals. In order to improve the level of traffic safety, it is necessary to increase the factors that have a positive effect on the usage rate of the turn signal lights, and at the same time encourage drivers to use the turn signal lights habitually. Application: The results of this research can be useful in designing a plan to increase the driver's turn signal light usage rate.
