01049276

Component

National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 493 found that a flashing yellow arrow (FYA) permissive indication is well understood by drivers and recommended its application for permissive left-turns. Subsequently, numerous studies have been initiated evaluating the potential impacts associated with the FYA in preparation for its potential inclusion in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). In 2006, both the MUTCD and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the use of the FYA. One question raised is whether the FYA results in a change in drivers’ perceived understanding of the solid (steady) yellow arrow indication (SYA). This research quantified the impact on driver comprehension of the SYA resulting from exposure to and comprehension of the FYA permissive indication. A total of 212 drivers in Madison, WI or Amherst, MA completed a unique sequential experiment including driver’s evaluation of the SYA indication in various scenarios. Among the conclusions were the following: 1);when responding to the SYA indication, only 34 percent of the drivers responded the same before and after exposure to the FYA, however, the changes in responses were cautious in nature, and 2) the distribution of driver responses before and after exposure to the FYA were statistically equivalent in real-world driving scenarios. Therefore, the result show that there was no evidence to suggest that the FYA permissive indication may negatively affect drivers’ understanding of the SYA indication

01042056

07-2293

English

16p

2007

Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting

CD-ROM

Figures; Photos; References (9)

Driver experience; Flashing; Flashing traffic signals; Highway operations; Operations; Traffic control devices; Traffic signals; Yellow; Yellow interval (Traffic signal cycle)

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

Amherst (Massachusetts); Madison (Wisconsin)

Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2007 Paper #07-2293

TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2007 6:59PM