A STUDY SERIES ON OFFICE OF TRAFFIC OPERATIONS-SELECTED SIGNING ISSUES. FINAL REPORT

This report details a series of concurrently conducted laboratory studies of the effectiveness of various standard and/or proposed traffic control devices. In comparisons of bicycle symbol designs, lane shift symbol designs, and road closed barricade designs, no model emerged as superior in terms of driver response. Location of a flashing arrow panel relative to the lane channelization split on a three-lane highway, tested in a driving simulator, had no effect on subject behavior; however, presence of tubes extending from the center lane closure delayed subjects crossing from left to center lanes, and resulted in improved lane placement. A one-way design which retains the directional cue when the text is obscured proved equal to the current standard, and may be an improvement under conditions of reduced visibility. The specific arrangement of the elements (i.e., route number, cardinal direction, and directional arrow) of the route shield guide sign appears to affect the speed with which drivers comprehend this information; subjects responded more rapidly to a design with a vertical arrangement of elements separated by horizontal lines, than to the standard route shield. Three of seven motorcycle warning designs (a word sign, and two symbol designs) performed equally in a preliminary evaluation, thus providing a basis for further research.

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • Alicandri, E
  • Walker, J
  • Sedney, C A
  • Roberts, K
• Publication Date: 1990-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 68 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arrows; Barricades; Direction signs; Flashing traffic signals; Guide signs; Laboratory tests; Measures of effectiveness; Performance evaluations; Signs; Symbols; Traffic control devices; Traffic signs; Tubing; Warning signals; Warning signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Sign legend
• Old TRIS Terms: Directional sign; Flashing arrow panels
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496562
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-89-232, NCP 3B3C-0112
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM