01628764

Component

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) provides standards and guidance for all traffic control devices, including guide signs. However, guide sign design is unique because each sign must be custom designed based on the information that needs to be conveyed. The guide sign design process begins with careful examination and consideration of the geometric design of the roadway and other external factors (e.g. control destinations). The next step involves determining the arrangement or layout of the sign legend; in order to effectively address the needs of drivers, legend design must incorporate appropriate human factors and design principles. This paper describes some of the general principles of guide signing and then illustrates some examples of common inconsistencies across the United States. The inconsistencies are described and evaluated against sign design and human factors principles. In some cases, uniformity makes sense. In others, there is no reason to think that the design element would have an impact on comprehension, legibility, or other measure of performance. In all cases though, it is clear that more guide sign design guidance would improve uniformity and consistency which would be helpful to practicing traffic engineers.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB50 Standing Committee on Traffic Control Devices.

01618707

17-04477

English

17p

2017

Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; Photos; References; Tables

Design; Evaluation and assessment; Guide signs; Human factors; Recommendations; Standardization

United States

Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2017 Paper #17-04477

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 8 2016 11:43AM