00367450

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...s/trr/1982/844/844-009.pdf

http://scholar.google.com...sser&publication_year=1982

The results and methodology used in a laboratory study to determine motorists' time required to read urban freeway guide signs and the accuracy with which they read the signs are presented. The study was performed by using licensed drivers as subjects. The subjects, ranging in age from 18 to 79 years, were taken along a hypothetical urban freeway route where 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-panel signs were used. A sign bridge typically has between one and four sign panels that have a green background and a white border around each panel. Each panel contains one or two route designations, one or more destination cities, and additional action messages. Each panel contained either 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 units of information. The results of this study indicate that the optimum accuracy level was about 6 units of information/panel. When the information level was less than 16 units, 100 percent of the subjects could read the signs acceptably; when the level was between 16-30 units, 51 percent could read the sign acceptably; and when the level was between 31-50 units, only 33 percent could read the sign acceptably. It is apparent that route-selection accuracy decreases as the number of route choices increases. On a large sign (3 or more panels), the information content should not exceed 16 units of information/sign bridge. The time required to read a sign also increases with the number of route choices and total information on the sign. (Author)

Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on User Information Systems. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

00370202

HS-033 620

pp 41-50

1982

Transportation Research Record

61st Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board

0309033225

Digital/other

Figures (9) ; Maps (1) ; References (11) ; Tables (2)

Accuracy; Design; Drivers; Freeways; Guide signs; Human factors; Information management; Information, data, and knowledge; Reaction time; Reading; Route choice; Simulation; Traffic signs

Driver reaction

Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor

HSL, TRIS, TRB

Dec 30 1983 12:00AM

• ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BUMPER STANDARD FMVSS 215
• AUTOMOBILE-RESTRAINT CONTROVERSY: ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE IN PROMOTION OF SAFETY BELT USE
• EFFECTIVENESS OF CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGNING AT FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION SITE LANE CLOSURES
• ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
• EVALUATION OF MAGNITUDE OF UNNECESSARY AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS
• FOUR APPROACHES TO INSTRUCTION IN OCCUPANT-RESTRAINT USE
• IMPACT OF LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY
• POSITIVE-GUIDANCE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AT A RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING
• PRESENT STATUS OF INERTIA-COLLECTION SYSTEM
• TRANSPORTATION R&D TECHNOLOGY: THE DIAGNOSTIC MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION CONCEPT, 1969-1981
• TRANSVERSE AIR-CUSHION RESTRAINTS FOR COMMUTER VANS AND SMALL BUSES
• USE OF COMPUTERIZED ROADWAY-INFORMATION SYSTEM IN SAFETY ANALYSES