DRIVER AWARENESS OF SIGN COLORS AND SHAPES

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO ASCERTAIN VIA DRIVER QUESTIONNAIRES THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOR AND SHAPE IN THE RECOGNITION OF ROAD SIGNS. IN GENERAL IT WAS FOUND THAT WHERE DRIVER REACTION AND UNIFORMITY OF SIGNING ARE HIGH IN THE USE OF A GENERAL COLOR OR SHAPE THE DRIVER RECOGNITION TENDS TO BE HIGH. THE MORE UNLIMITED THE USE OF THE COLOR OR SHAPE, THE LOWER THE RECOGNITION TENDS TO BE. THERE APPEARS TO BE SIGNIFICANT CARRYOVER FROM TRAFFIC SIGNAL COLOR AND MEANING INTO THIS AREA. THIS ASSOCIATION SEEMS TO BE INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT SIGNALS REQUIRE ACTION AND THEREFORE MERIT ATTENTION. RED, YELLOW, AND WHITE IN THAT ORDER WERE THE MOST RECOGNIZED COLORS USED ON HIGHWAY SIGNS. DRIVERS DO NOT SEEM TO PAY MUCH ATTENTION OR BE AWARE OF THE COLOR OF SIGNS. SHAPE AND MESSAGE ARE THE MORE IMPORTANT OF THE VARIABLES. /BPR/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Hpr, 0272
  • Corporate Authors:

    Virginia Highway Research Council

    Charlottesville, VA  United States 

    Virginia Department of Highways

    Richmond, VA  United States  23219
  • Authors:
    • Ferguson, W S
    • Cook, K E
  • Publication Date: 1966-12

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00222555
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Bureau of Public Roads /US
  • Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Jul 28 1994 12:00AM