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    <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
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      <link>https://trid.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>When words split on the road: Recognition costs of across-line destination-name order in pavement markings</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2716704</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Destination names are often painted directly onto road surfaces. When lane width is limited, these names are typically split across two lines, creating a design choice regarding their vertical order. While current models of reading propose that preserving canonical order (Top-to-Bottom) facilitates word recognition, real-world implementations often violate this principle. In two go/no-go lexical decision experiments, the authors examined whether vertical ordering of split destination names influences recognition efficiency across two display settings. Spanish city names were presented as split markings in either canonical Top-to-Bottom order (e.g., BARCE above LONA) or inverted Bottom-to-Top order (e.g., LONA above BARCE); in the inverted arrangement, the first fragment appeared on the lower (nearer) line. Experiment 1 used a neutral asphalt texture, whereas Experiment 2 embedded the markings in a realistic road scene. Bayesian mixed-effects analyses showed clear evidence for an advantage of canonical ordering, with response times substantially faster for Top-to-Bottom than for inverted layouts (164 ms in Experiment 1; 211 ms in Experiment 2). From a traffic and road-design perspective, preserving canonical reading order when splitting destination names appears to be a simple, low-cost strategy to reduce processing demands and increase effective preview time for lane-choice decisions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:04:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2716704</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Emergency Routing Signs Pilot on the I-81 Corridor in the Staunton Area</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2720225</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Traffic incidents on the Interstate 81 corridor account for approximately 77% of all delays, significantly affecting regional mobility and roadway capacity. To enhance incident management and reduce the logistical burdens associated with manual detour deployment, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Staunton District initiated a pilot project to evaluate the efficacy of permanently-installed emergency routing signs. This study assessed the effect of these signs on detour operations and traffic diversion behavior using a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with quantitative metrics from traffic incidents, traffic speeds, origin-destination, and traffic volume data from multiple VDOT and third-party sources. The study employed a comparative before-and-after analysis across four case studies, including three incident-related and one work zone-related detours, to quantify improvements in operational efficiency and shifts in motorist route choice. Information gathered through interviews with Staunton District personnel provided critical context for interpreting quantitative analysis, offering insights into personnel requirements and decision-making workflows. Findings indicate that permanently-installed emergency routing signs facilitated more rapid detour activation by eliminating the need for manual signage setup, thereby reducing activation latency and allowing VDOT incident responders to focus on scene clearance. Compared with the before period, the time required to activate the detour decreased by approximately 1 hour. These operational efficiencies translate into reduced queuing delay benefits; at the 28% baseline compliance rate, rapid activation generates roughly $16,000 in benefits, based on case study results. The results of this pilot provide a technical foundation for future VDOT policy decisions. The study recommends refining operational procedures and processes to maximize the effectiveness of permanently-installed routing signs, particularly to better guide motorists onto the designated detour route when queue spillback extends beyond the primary decision points of the designated detour route.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:51:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2720225</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Which guiding information performs best in metro station: A side-by-side comparison based on an editable VR platform</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2592520</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To evaluate the effectiveness of various types of guiding information in metro stations, an experiment in a virtual reality (VR) environment was designed. Two hundred and twenty-four participants were recruited, and seven groups of VR experiments were conducted to make a side-by-side comparison between the guider, the sign (traditional and new designed), the subtitle, the video, the broadcast and non-player characters (NPCs). Four parameters, the perception rate (p), the comprehension time (c), the accuracy of path selection (s), and the hesitation time (h), were proposed, and the entropy weighting method was used to evaluate the performance quantitatively. Results showed the score of the new designed sign and the subtitle had the highest and lowest score, respectively. The broadcast and the guider outperformed the traditional sign and the video. NPCs generally had a negative impact on perception rate, accuracy of path selection and hesitation time, with mixed effects on comprehension time. Findings also indicated optimal sign placements: pattern-based signs should be positioned vertically, while color-based ones should align with movement direction. The proposed method provides a quantitative framework for comparing different types of guiding information, and the findings provide definitive reference on choosing the right directional cues for metro stations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:55:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2592520</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Halo effect in airport terminals: How wayfinding experiences influence emergency preparedness through perceived reliability</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2570026</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As critical infrastructure in global transportation networks, airport terminals with high passenger throughput require effective safety management to ensure passenger safety and operational efficiency. Recognizing the importance of a human-centric approach, this study delves into wayfinding signage (WS) that facilitates routine navigation for passengers in airport terminals and emergency exit signage (EES) that guides evacuations during emergencies. The authors hypothesize that the passengers’ experience in different WS performance criteria—visibility, legibility, consistency, and correctness—affect passengers’ perceived reliability of it, which, by virtue of the Halo Effect, subsequently influences their perceived reliability of EES and willingness to comply with EES. To validate the hypotheses in the research model, the authors designed a targeted questionnaire and collected 397 valid responses from airport terminals in four major cities in China. The results substantiate the presence of the Halo Effect and reveal the significant impact of certain dimensions of WS performance criteria on passengers’ reliability perception and their willingness to comply. The findings emphasize the mediating role of perceived reliability in converting environmental design into behavioral intentions and actions, offering theoretical insights and practical recommendations for optimizing WS design to improve routine services and emergency preparedness in airport management. It also advances the understanding of reliability perception mechanisms in public spaces and offers practical significance for improving public safety through everyday efforts.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:34:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2570026</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Compensatory behavior for mental workload induced by freeway destination signs</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2569769</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Exit ramps are accident-prone areas of freeways. One of the reasons for this is the information overload induced by destination signs, which makes them challenging to recognize and may even result in tension or mistakes. This study examined the cognitive workload that destination signs place on drivers and the compensatory behavior they use to counteract the additional workload. Forty-five subjects were recruited to conduct a simulated driving experiment. Four destination signs with varying information levels were used to load mental workload as independent variables. Workload indicators (such as the NASA-TLX questionnaire, heart rate variability and eye movements) and compensatory behavior metrics (such as speed, distance headway, time headway and the increased cognitive time due to deceleration) were collected and analyzed through a mixed design analysis of variance. The results show that destination signs with different levels of information produced various cognitive workloads. Drivers’ subjective workload increased significantly with an increase in sign information; however, the heart rate variability indicators did not significantly differ due to the drivers’ compensatory strategy in the cognition process. The principal compensating strategy found was the longitudinal deceleration; as the speed dropped, the distance headway and time headway were significantly increased. Although professional drivers demonstrated a significantly greater speed differential during deceleration than nonprofessional drivers, the alternative safety indicators did not show statistical differences. Additionally, driving experience had no significant impact on the increased cognitive time of compensatory strategies. On the one hand, the effort invested by drivers increased with the workload. On the other hand, when the workload exceeded a particular degree, compensatory driving behavior was triggered, which in turn reduced the workload. There was no discernible difference in the effectiveness of the compensatory strategies employed by professional drivers and nonprofessional drivers under complex destination signs. The findings could provide safety considerations for the design of traffic signs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:56:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2569769</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The explanatory power of the SKYTRAX’s airport rating system: Implications for airport management</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2533826</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This article presents a study of the explanatory power of SKYTRAX's airport rating system, using data from 423 airports for statistical analysis. The study utilizes ordinal regression and Maximum Likelihood Structural Equation Modeling (ML SEM) to propose and test several models. The study results show that only three service quality components based on SKYTRAX have significant explanatory power, i.e., terminal comfort, wayfinding signage, and airports' food and beverage outlets. The study findings have significant implications for airport management and key stakeholders. By prioritizing these service quality components, airport managers can improve operational efficiency and increase service quality, which can attract new investments. The study highlights the importance of addressing the vital elements of airport service quality, which can lead to time and cost savings in problem-solving processes and procedures. The findings also have implications for academia, providing a basis for further research on the importance of airport rating systems for customer satisfaction and service quality.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2025 17:11:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2533826</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How do design factors of stacked directional signs affect their visual cognition?</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2443681</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Stacked directional signs are widely used on Chinese roads, but research on them is relatively scarce. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the Language used, Layout format, Amount of information, and use of Separating lines on the visual cognition of stacked directional signs. A visual cognition experiment involving thirty-two drivers was conducted, and the reaction time and response accuracy were recorded. The results revealed that a greater Amount of information was correlated with increased visual cognition reaction times. Bilingual signs exhibited significantly greater reaction times compared to monolingual counterparts, while a simpler Layout format resulted in shorter reaction times. The Language used, Amount of information, Layout format, and use of Separating lines were in decreasing order of importance for visual cognition reaction time, with a high Amount of information having the greatest effect. The implications of these findings can be applied to the design and optimization of stacked directional signs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:49:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2443681</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Analysis of Impact of Guiding Signs on Evacuation Decision-Making Process</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1975846</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The efficiency of emergency evacuation signs is influenced by its visibility catchment area (VCA) and pedestrian behavior and route selection in the evacuation. In order to describe the pedestrian route selection process in evacuation in specific subway station signs’ VCA, we identify the signs’ properties which influence the efficiency of emergency evacuation signs and check the parameters of facility layout structure which affects VCA through investigation and analysis of test results, then constructing decision-making behavior model of pedestrian evacuation route selection base on the analysis of different route selection behavior during evacuation. This paper simulates the process of route selection in evacuation through AnyLogic and then analyzes the influence of the emergency signs’ location, the initial evacuation volume and the success rate of pedestrian interaction on the evacuation time by simulating the process of route selection in evacuation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:53:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1975846</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4920: Three-dimensional Visibility and Legibility Zone and Human Information Processing of Arrow Boards on Truck-Mounted Attenuator (TMA) Trucks</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2410443</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The study aims to optimize the visibility and legibility of arrow boards on Truck-Mounted Attenuator (TMA) trucks to improve work zone safety. Project deliverables include: (1) A progress report to summarize the three-dimensional visibility and legibility zone of arrow boards on TMA trucks and its influencing factors. (2) An evaluation report of countermeasures to improve the visibility and legibility of arrow boards on TMA trucks. (3) The optimal countermeasure and the relationships between the three‐dimensional visibility and legibility zone and human information processing of drivers. (4) A final report documenting all findings and recommendations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:46:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2410443</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Effect of Lane Direction Pavement Markings on Driving Performance and Safety: A Driving Simulator Study</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2322852</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ObjectiveA driving simulator study was conducted to test the effect of directions pavement markings (DPMs) on drivers’ performance.BackgroundThe perception of traditional direction signs may be less efficient than that of DPMs because drivers allocate more attentional resources to the road than to any other location.MethodTwo experimental conditions of DPMs were tested: (a) the name of the lane’s destination town, inscribed in white letters; (b) red and white shields enclosing the name of the lane’s destination town. In both conditions, the name or shield was preceded by a white arrow and traditional road signs were presented as well. The experimental conditions were compared to a baseline condition, which consisted of traditional road signs only. Various scenarios of three-lane highways were simulated and the number of vehicles on the road was manipulated, forming a 2 × 3 design (two load conditions × three experimental conditions). Twenty-two participants took part in the experiment.ResultsPavement markings in both configurations were highly beneficial. Compared with the baseline condition, in both experimental conditions, the drivers noticed the correct lane sooner and moved to the correct lane earlier. Results also suggested that white markings are more beneficial than shield markings; however, this finding should be further confirmed.ConclusionLane DPMS are desirable as they are likely to improve traffic safety at relatively low cost.ApplicationRegulations demanding the presence of DPMs, at the very least in low visibility decision sites, would increase traffic safety.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:32:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2322852</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Impact of Directional Road Signs Combinations and Language Unfamiliarity on Driving Behavior</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2112963</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Twenty-one participants “drove” a simulated vehicle for one hour on an eight-lane rural highway. Data were aggregated from different scenarios (2 (Language: English, Spanish) × 2 (number of boards: 1, 3)). The results showed a significant main effect of language familiarity on driving performance. The higher standard deviations of speed and acceleration were found in Spanish condition. The research results showed that the impact of language familiarity on driving performance needs further research and attention.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 30 Jul 2023 15:19:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2112963</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Simulation-Based Study on Distractions and Benefits of Signal Light Projections With Directional Indicators</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2209673</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To prevent accidents, the signaling function of automotive exterior lighting is essential to provide other road users with information on the presence of the vehicle and/or changes in its moving direction. Recently, dynamic turn signal indicators, backup indicators, and other light projections with directional indicators have been proposed and studies are being conducted to evaluate their safety enhancement and visibility in different lighting conditions. However, previous studies had limitations since most of them had not been studied or verified under dynamic driving situations. In addition, there aren’t any studies on the distraction caused by turn signal projection lamps. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an assessment of the distraction and benefits of turn signal projection lamps under several dynamic scenarios. For this reason, the authors investigated whether the signal projection lamps, which work simultaneously with directional indicators and project a simple geometric pattern of a certain color and size on the left and right road surfaces in front of the vehicle, are beneficial or distracting to other drivers and VRUs (Vulnerable Road Users) such as cyclists and pedestrians. Twenty participants participated in the experiment. The results showed that the signal projection lamp hardly distracts drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, but rather helps predict the presence of oncoming vehicles and the moving direction of the vehicles. Particularly with the signal projection lamp, the cyclist test showed a 14% and 9% decrease in detection time when the vehicle turned right and left, respectively. These differences were statistically significant. The results suggest that a signal projection lamp is more beneficial than a distraction to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:21:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2209673</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Optimizing guidance signage system to improve drivers’ lane-changing behavior at the expressway toll plaza</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2026574</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Although ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) has been widely implemented in vehicles in China in recent years, the channel guidance signage system on expressways has not been updated accordingly. Late lane-changing occurs when drivers are confused about the correct channel to enter, leading to increased crash risks and traffic congestion in front of the toll. The paper aims to optimize the current guidance signage systems, given the high proportion of ETC vehicles on Chinese expressways, and evaluate its effects on the drivers’ lane-changing behavior when passing through the expressway toll channels. A driving simulator experiment was conducted to test four scenarios: Original sign plan, Partial Manual Toll Collection (MTC) sign plan, Complete MTC sign plan and Complete MTC sign with Voice warning plan. Forty participants with a valid driver's license completed the four scenarios, and their behavior performances (e.g., decision-making of lane-changing, response time, average speed and deceleration) in the main lane in front of the toll booth were analyzed. The results showed that compared to the Original sign plan and Partial MTC sign plans, the Complete MTC sign plans (with and without voice warning) played a significant role in improving the MTC vehicle drivers’ lane-changing behaviors. The improvement included earlier initiated lane-changing, shortened response time, lower deceleration rate and extended lane-changing duration distance. The findings of this study have important implications for expressway designers and relevant management departments to optimize the current guidance signage and enhance traffic safety and efficiency at the toll plaza.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:51:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2026574</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A new approach to route guidance for cyclists - a field study with eye trackers and GPS tracking</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1770607</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New principles for bicycle guidance have been implemented by the Oslo City Council. Through a field experiment with the use of interviews, eye tracking and a GoPro camera, the authors have investigated the effect of the measure on route selection and traffic safety (distractions), along one of the routes. The new signage system led to a change in route choices for the cyclists. The participants experienced the new system as an improvement. They felt a greater degree of control and overview after the new signage system was implemented. The authors used machine learning to carry out analyses of whether the new marking led to cyclists becoming less aware of other road users. This showed that there was no change in the proportion of other road users who were detected. Qualitative analyses of eye tracking data and people's responses to the interviews also indicated that the measure was an improvement rather than a threat to road safety.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Mar 2021 09:30:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1770607</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Effect of Highway Directional Signs on Driver Mental Workload and Behavior Using Eye Movement and Brain Wave</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1729648</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The rapid development of expressways has led to an increasing number of place names that must be displayed on road guide signs. As a result, multi-board guide signs have been increasingly set up on expressways. The main aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the directional road sign displayed on multi and single-board signs on driver mental workload and behavior. 32 participants including 16 females (mean age = 24.7 years, standard deviation = 1.9 years) participated in the experiment and completed 3 driving simulation scenes. The setting of each scene-sign board was different: 1 board, 2 boards, and 3 boards. The driver needed to reach the designated destination according to the guidance of the road signs. Eye tracker was used to measure the fixation, saccade and electroencephalogram (EEG) was used to measure the alpha (8−13 hz) band absolute power in different signage scenarios. There are two major findings of the study. First, when the number of place names is less than or equal to 7, the multi-board sign generates more mental workload than the single-board sign does. The alpha band power of the driver's frontal area under the multiple boards is lower and affects driving performance (the deceleration is greater). Second, when the number of place names is more than 7, there is no significant difference in the effect on mental workload whether multi or single-board sign is used. However, compared to the single-board sign, drivers in the case of multi-board sign are likely to reduce the fixation duration and increase the number of saccades. The results suggest that it is not necessary to use multi-board signs when the number of place names is less than 7. These findings provide more safety considerations for the setting of multi-board guide signs in the future.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2020 10:00:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1729648</guid>
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