An Evaluation of Driver Comprehension of Solid Yellow Indications Resulting from Implementation of Flashing Yellow Arrow
National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 493 found that a flashing yellow arrow (FYA) permissive indication is well understood by drivers and recommended its application for permissive left-turns. Subsequently, numerous studies have been initiated evaluating the potential impacts associated with the FYA in preparation for its potential inclusion in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). In 2006, both the MUTCD and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the use of the FYA. One question raised is whether the FYA results in a change in drivers’ perceived understanding of the solid (steady) yellow arrow indication (SYA). This research quantified the impact on driver comprehension of the SYA resulting from exposure to and comprehension of the FYA permissive indication. A total of 212 drivers in Madison, WI or Amherst, MA completed a unique sequential experiment including driver’s evaluation of the SYA indication in various scenarios. Among the conclusions were the following: 1);when responding to the SYA indication, only 34 percent of the drivers responded the same before and after exposure to the FYA, however, the changes in responses were cautious in nature, and 2) the distribution of driver responses before and after exposure to the FYA were statistically equivalent in real-world driving scenarios. Therefore, the result show that there was no evidence to suggest that the FYA permissive indication may negatively affect drivers’ understanding of the SYA indication
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Authors:
- Knodler Jr, Michael A
- Noyce, David A
- Kacir, Kent C
- Brehmer, Chris L
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
- Date: 2007
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: CD-ROM
- Features: Figures; Photos; References;
- Pagination: 16p
- Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Driver experience; Flashing; Flashing traffic signals; Highway operations; Operations; Traffic control devices; Traffic signals; Yellow; Yellow change interval
- Identifier Terms: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
- Geographic Terms: Amherst (Massachusetts); Madison (Wisconsin)
- Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01049276
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 07-2293
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: May 8 2007 7:45AM