AN EVALUATION OF SIGNING TO WARN OF POTENTIALLY ICY BRIDGES

This field study examined driver responses to a potentially slippery bridge during periods of possible preferential icing. Study objectives were to examine motorists' general awareness of the hazard and to assess the relative effectiveness of various warning sign treatments. Measures of signing effectiveness were motorists' speeds at critical bridge approach locations and questionnaire response regarding motorists' observations and interpretations of the signs. Two bridge approaches were signed with combinations of activated and nonactivated signs at the bridge and 1,000 ft (305 m) before the bridge during periods of possible preferntial icing. Significant speed reductions on the bridge and at the bridge entry were elicited by activated signing. The most effective signs were (a) activated, before the bridge, and (b) activated, at the bridge during hours of darkness. Activated signing used at the bridge was observed to have a greater impact than activated signing used before the bridge. Drivers were more responsibe to the signs during hazardous periods. Bridge-approach roadway geometry was seen to affect motorists' observation of and response to the signing. Improved results were obtained on a short sight-distance approach where the bridge did not visually compete for driver attention.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/531/531-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=AN+EVALUATION+OF+SIGNING+TO+WARN+OF+POTENTIALLY+ICY+BRIDGES&author=F.+Hanscom&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309023785
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Control Devices. 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.
• Authors:
  • Hanscom, Fred R
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 18-35
• Monograph Title: Traffic Control and Motorist Information
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 531
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Drivers; Evaluation; Field studies; Hazards; Ice; Icing; Measures of effectiveness; Questionnaires; Reaction time; Slipperiness; Speed; Warning signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction; Effectiveness; Hazard perception
• Old TRIS Terms: Preferential icing
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00097207
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023785
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1975 12:00AM