01049332

Component

A human factors study is reported which tested driver comprehension of diagrammatic advance freeway guide signs and their text alternatives. Participants viewed a computer slideshow with touched-up photographs of freeway scenes containing the test signs. These slides were shown for only 3 seconds to simulate a single driver eye glance at a sign. All signs were overhead mounted in the photographs. Participants were given either the through route or exit route as a destination. They indicated which lane or lanes they would choose to reach the given destination. Four different exit types were tested: left optional exit, left lane drop, freeway-to-freeway split with optional center lane, and two lane right exits with optional lanes. Results showed that for the left exits the standard diagrammatic sign performed only slightly better than the text version. For the right exit with optional lane, a modified diagrammatic sign, which represented each lane with an individual directional arrow, performed better than text and traditional diagrammatic designs. For left lane drops a modified diagrammatic sign also did best. For freeway-to-freeway splits, standard text signs with two arrows over the optional lane performed better than either style of diagrammatic sign. The paper also contains an extensive literature review of previous work in the area, a discussion of testing methodology, and suggestions for future research.

01042056

07-1254

English

22p

2007

Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting

CD-ROM

Figures; Maps; Photos; References (18)

Comprehension; Diagrams; Driver experience; Eye fixations; Eye movements; Guide signs; Highway operations; Human factors; Operations; Overhead traffic signs; Signs

Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2007 Paper #07-1254

TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2007 5:52PM