HIGHWAY SIGN MEANING AS AN INDICATOR OF PERCEPTUAL RESPONSE (ABRIDGMENT)

Semantic differential scaling has been used as a method of evaluating and assessing driver understanding and comprehension of traffic signs in the past. Litigation and other operational pressures on traffic engineering agencies have created an interest in finding a laboratory method for quick and easy estimation of driver performance in processing communication via signs. This paper contains data on research attempts to correlate the meanings assigned to road signs through semantic differential scales. These scales are correlated with drivers' abilities to detect, recognize, and react to road signs. Significant correlations were most often found between meanings attributed to signs in semantic differential scales and the performance of drivers in recognizing signs. No semantic differential scales were found for any sign tested for which a significant correlation existed in detection, in recognition, and in decision-reaction tests. It was concluded that semantic differential scaling has little or no relationship to perceptual response to highway signs by drivers.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1985/1027/1027-007.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=HIGHWAY+SIGN+MEANING+AS+AN+INDICATOR+OF+PERCEPTUAL+RESPONSE+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=K.+Brewer&author=A.+THIEMAN&author=W.+Woodman&author=L.+AVANT&publication_year=1985
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309039185
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on User Information Systems. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Brewer, Kenneth A
  • Thieman, Alice A
  • Woodman, William F
  • Avant, Lloyd L
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 35-42
• Monograph Title: DRIVER INFORMATION NEEDS AND VISIBILITY OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1027
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Design; Drivers; Perception; Ratings; Reaction time; Traffic signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction; Interpretation
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception; Traffic sign design
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457431
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309039185
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 070
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM