DIVERSIONARY SIGNING CONTENT AND DRIVER BEHAVIOR

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of certain diversionary highway guide sign variables on the driver's ability to process and interpret directional information. The work was conducted under controlled field conditions by using an instrumental vehicle with an in-vehicle sign simulation device. The primary independent variables consisted of message content, message severity, and message redundancy. Driver route choice behavior, information interpretation time, message preference, and interrogative responses concerning route choice decisions were the measured dependent variables in the study. Results indicated that the frequency of bypass choice was related to the severity of the message on the advisory sign and type of information. Higher severity messages and time delay information were associated with decisions to bypass the main route. The advisory signs used in the study were interpreted as being directive, especially when congestion information was presented. Congestion information was also more familiar to the subjects and was associated with quicker information interpretation time, indicating that decisions were quicker and easier with congestion information.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/600/600-003.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DIVERSIONARY+SIGNING+CONTENT+AND+DRIVER+BEHAVIOR&author=T.+Mast&author=J.+Ballas&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Motorist 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.
• Authors:
  • Mast, Truman M
  • Ballas, James A
• Conference:
  • 55th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1976-1-19 to 1976-1-23
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 14-19
• Monograph Title: Motorist information systems and services
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 600
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Bypasses; Drivers; Guide signs; Instrumented vehicles; Route choice; Signs; Symbols; Traffic diversion; Traffic signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Sign legend
• Old TRIS Terms: Bypass routes
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00153128
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025699
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 31 1977 12:00AM