LUMINANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNS WITH COMPLEX BACKGROUNDS

Research is described which was aimed at establishing luminance requirements to ensure that a yellow diamond warning sign is conspicuous at night. The study developed a procedure for rating sign locations to identify those locations requiring higher luminance level signs. The study procedure is described as well as the study's major conclusions, and recommendations on the maximum allowable sign luminance deterioration that can still provide the driver with adequate detection distances. The significance of this study is that it attempts to provide standards for signing luminance by developing criteria based on the complexity of the surrounding visual environment. It was found that most sign locations will be easily classified and fall into the low complexity group. At low complexity sites, enclosed lens retroreflective sheeting gives adequate recognition performance well in excess of the predicted driver requirements of the decision sight distance model. The study also shows that at low complexity sites, signs can undergo considerable deterioration without losing their effectiveness.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1586080
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Schwab, R N
  • Mace, D J
• Publication Date: 1987-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 48-55
• Serial:
  • Public Roads
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Federal Highway Administration
  • ISSN: 0033-3735
  • Serial URL: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Luminosity factor; Measures of effectiveness; Night visibility; Ratings; Retroreflection; Traffic signs; Warning signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Background (Traffic signs); Criteria; Effectiveness
• Old TRIS Terms: Luminosity; Retrodirective reflection
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00474713
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 31 1987 12:00AM