COMPREHENSION OF SOME ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF REGULATORY TRAFFIC SIGNS

Some alternative forms of symbolic regulatory sign formats, including the major international ones, were compared in two laboratory studies with each other and with current Australian standard signs in terms of their comprehension by a broad range of Australian drivers. For turn restriction signs, mandatory and prohibitory forms were also compared. The best form of symbolic mandatory signs has a green annulus with the word "only" appended; for turn restrictions this form was superior both to prohibitory and to simple mandatory forms. It was also the best of the bus lane signs tested. The best form of symbolic prohibitory signs had a red annulus and red diagonal slash. To convey a limit, a red annulus without a diagonal slash was better. However, it was found that the best comprehended and most often preferred signs were those currently used in Australia, almost all of which include a verbal statement of the sign meaning. It was suggested that the optimum form of regulatory sign is the "hybrid" combining the advantages of both symbolic and verbal information coding (a). This paper was also published as Australian Road Research Board Internal Report AIR 348-1. The number of the covering abstract of the conference is TRIS no. 368448. (TRRL)

• Record URL:
  • http://arrbknowledge.com
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the Eleventh Australian Road Research Board Conference, held at the University of Melbourne, August 23-27, 1982.
• Corporate Authors:

  ARRB

  Melbourne, Victoria  Australia 
• Authors:
  • MACDONALD, W A
  • Hoffmann, E R
• Conference:
  • Australian Road Research Board Conference Proc
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 111-126
• Serial:
  • Volume: 11

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Color; Color codes; Comprehension; Conferences; Design; Drivers; Errors; Laboratories; Legibility; Lettering; Red; Regulatory signs; Symbols; Tests; Traffic signs; Turning traffic; Warning systems
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Old TRIS Terms: Traffic sign design; Turn restriction signs
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 1272: Bus; 6784: Colour; 2209: Comprehension; 8525: Conference; 1772: Driver; 6440: Error; 6237: Laboratory (not an organization); 541: Lettering; 9068: Red; 583: Symbol; 6255: Test; 553: Traffic sign; 1836: Turning; 9113: Warning
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00368512
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: HSL, ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 31 1984 12:00AM