PEDESTRIAN PREFERENCES FOR SYMBOLIC SIGNAL DISPLAYS

An effort is reported which consisted of a determination of user preferences for and understanding of symbol displays, and the field testing and evaluation of the displays showing the greatest potential for improvement. Five preference surveys were conducted: 2 directed at transportation engineers and safety experts, 2 at pedestrians on the street in 12 different cities and one at school-age pedestrians. The first engineer survey indicated a preference for the hand and standing man displays and a three-section, three-color signal head. The second survey favored the hand over the standing man with a preference for a 2-section, 3-color signal. Orange and white were the preferred colors. Yellow was the favored clearance indication color. Symbols were thought to be suitable replacements for words in pedestrian signal displays. The pedestrian surveys indicated: the attachment of the most intuitive meanings to the circle slash symbol and to red and green for pedestrian signal display colors; and that symbols could be field tested without adverse safety effects. The school-age survey indicated that the symbols did have some degree of intuitive meaning but that unless education were provided, the field test sites should not be located on elementary school walking routes.

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Robertson, H D
• Publication Date: 1977-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 38-42
• Serial:
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Consumer behavior; Consumer preferences; Pedestrian actuated controllers; Pedestrian phase; Pedestrian signs; Pedestrians; Red; School children; Symbols; Traffic safety; Whites; Yellow
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165930
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 3 1978 12:00AM