THE DIFFICULTY THAT TRAFFIC SIGNS PRESENT TO POOR READERS

Although some Australian adults have significant difficulties with reading, verbal messages are used widely in the traffic sign system. A review was made of literature relating to poor reading and to traffic sign evaluation, and laboratory experiments were carried out to provide data on the performance of poor readers in tasks involving the legibility, interpretablity and short-term retention of traffic signs. While it was shown that only a small proportion (less than 1.1 per cent) of adults are likely to be so disabled in reading as to be completely unable to read verbal traffic sign messages, evidence was obtained to support the replacement of some verbal signs by symbolic signs at least in some crucial locations. Evidence was also found to support the usage, where applicable, of signs containing either permissive information, or a combination of permissive and prohibitive information, rather than just prohibitive information alone. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by Australian Department of Transport.
• Corporate Authors:

  Melbourne University, Australia

  Department of Mechanical Engineering, Grattan Street
  Parkville, Victoria 3052,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • McCarthy, J V
  • Hoffmann, E R
• Publication Date: 1977-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 206 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adults; Illiterates; Laboratory tests; Legibility; Reading; Safety; Symbols; Traffic signs
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 2209: Comprehension; 9011: Design (overall design); 1726: Disabled person; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 540: Legibility; 541: Lettering; 2229: Perception; 1755: Road user; 553: Traffic sign
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00176783
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 19 1978 12:00AM