COMMUNICATING WITH THE DRIVER AND THE PEDESTRIAN

The paper deals first with the need for communication to road users so that they may avoid conflict with one another and comply with various regulations; it is also desirable that they should be aware of any hazards and should have information on directions. Various signing systems are described in which colours and shapes are used to produce systematic patterns-something of this type is clearly necessary to carry the necessary messages, but examples are used to query the extent to which it is understood. For signs and signals to be effective it is necessary that the road users should read and understand the signs, understand the objectives of the message and sympathise with those objectives. The problems of enforcement are described, particularly when attempts are made for social reasons to allocate sections of road to selected users. With the increase in electronics control, part-time signs are being used increasingly both on ordinary roads and, in the form of a special signal, on motorways. The relative neglect of signing for pedestrians as compared with drivers arises from the amount of information which pedestrians require, and their natural reluctance to obey any instructions given. Nevertheless pedestrians experience severe problems in crossing the road so that a variety of signs and signals is available to help resolve their conflict with traffic. Signs themselves intrude into the visual environment-a new design is described designed to minimise the intrusion. The message they give can help the environment by concentrating traffic onto the most suitable roads. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Standards for Modern Highways National Conference.
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Highway Engineers

  14 Queen Anne's Gate
  London SW1,   England 

  Institution of Highway Engineers

  14 Queen Anne's Gate
  London SW1,   England 
• Authors:
  • Haddart, K W
• Conference:
  • Presented at the Standards for Modern Highways National Conference.
• Publication Date: 0

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 12-19

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Color; Color codes; Communications; Comprehension; Drivers; Electronic equipment; Electronics; Freeways; Hazard markings; Highway traffic control; Lettering; Pedestrian signs; Pedestrians; Shape; Traffic signals; Traffic signs; Travelers; Variables
• Uncontrolled Terms: Enforcement; Visual intrusions
• Old TRIS Terms: Electronics (Traffic)
• ITRD Terms: 6784: Colour; 9098: Communication; 2209: Comprehension; 1772: Driver; 6965: Electronics; 1534: Enforcement (law); 541: Lettering; 2752: Motorway; 1733: Pedestrian; 9073: Shape; 553: Traffic sign; 565: Traffic signal; 9086: Variability
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Society; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096977
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Conf Paper
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 24 1975 12:00AM