Abstract: Apparent object motion is created to stimulate rapid M cell response in an observer's visual system. In one embodiment, first and second pairs of lights, spaced apart about 1 to 60 minutes of visual angle at the viewing distance, are operated such that the innermost of each pair is activated for duration T1, and after a duration T2, the outermost of each pair is activated for the duration of a warning event. T1 is determined by luminous energy intensity from the innermost light pair, while duration T2 is selected to preclude an overlap in the observer's visual system between response to the end of the first-activated light, and the response commencing with the start of the second-activated light. An observer rapidly perceives the lights as looming closer, due to the inward-to-outward sweeping visual image that enhances salience. Because the observer's M cells appear to be primarily stimulated by the luminous energy, the observer can react more rapidly to the warning event than to conventional warning lights.

Abstract: Apparent motion is created in an object to stimulate rapid M cell response in an observer's visual system. In one embodiment, a vehicle is equipped with at least left and right pairs of brake lights spaced apart about 1 to 60 minutes of visual angle at the viewing distance. Vehicle braking activates the innermost of each pair of lights for duration T1, and after a duration T2, the outermost of each pair of lights is activated for the duration of the braking action. T1 is determined by luminous energy intensity from the innermost brake lights, and for incandescent lights is in the range of about 5 ms to about 50 ms. Duration T2 is selected to preclude an overlap in the observer's visual system between response to the end of the first-activated light, and the response commencing with the start of the second-activated light. For incandescent lights, T2 is in the range from about zero to about 50 ms.