Can self-luminous road markings enhance drivers’ hazard perception at unsignalized intersections? A simulation study on the combined effects of road environments and marking forms

Unsignalized intersections are high-risk areas for traffic accidents, particularly at night, making the enhancement of drivers’ hazard perception a critical objective for road safety. While conventional road markings provide essential visual cues for road users, their effectiveness is limited under specific conditions. As an innovative traffic safety measure, self-luminous road markings (SLRMs) offer intelligent and controllable illumination and have been increasingly implemented in real-world settings. This study investigates the impact of SLRMs on drivers’ hazard perception at night in unsignalized intersections. A driving simulator experiment was conducted under two road environments (rural and suburban) with four marking forms (continuous-illuminating text, continuous-illuminating symbol, transition-illuminating symbol, and non-luminous symbol markings). The results indicate that SLRMs significantly improve drivers’ hazard perception. In terms of driving behavior, drivers exhibited improved braking responses and maintained cautious driving. In terms of eye movement, SLRMs enhanced drivers’ visual search efficiency when exposed to potential hazards. Specifically, in rural environments, continuous-illuminating symbol markings were more effective in strengthening visual search efficiency, whereas in suburban environments, continuous-illuminating text markings were more effective in reducing driving speed. These findings highlight the importance of context-specific intervention strategies and provide theoretical support for the application of SLRMs in road safety, while also informing the future development of dynamic information systems in intelligent transportation.