DRIVERS' UNCONSCIOUS ERRORS IN THE PROCESSING OF TRAFFIC SIGNS

Human information processing is divided into two processing modes. One is a conscious, attention-demanding method that is flexible and can be readily controlled. The second is an unconscious, essentially uncontrolled processing that is triggered by well-practiced stimulus-response associations. This paper contains a description of two types of errors to which unconscious processing is prone: illusory combinations of display elements and interference from conflicting irrelevant display elements. Traffic guide signs that may be susceptible to unconscious (automatic) processing errors are also presented as well as research results that are consistent with the hypothesized errors.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1985/1027/1027-008.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DRIVERS%27+UNCONSCIOUS+ERRORS+IN+THE+PROCESSING+OF+TRAFFIC+SIGNS&author=L.+WHITAKER&publication_year=1985
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• 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

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• Authors:
  • WHITAKER, LESLIE A
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 42-45
• 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: Behavior; Drivers; Errors; Guide signs; Traffic signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Interpretation
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver psychology
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457432
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309039185
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 071
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM