CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGN VISIBILITY

The object of this contract was to identify problems with the visibility of changeable message signs (CMSs), particularly for older drivers, and to develop design guidelines and operational recommendations to ensure adequate conspicuity and legibility of in-service CMSs. This project was divided into three main sections: a field survey of in-use CMSs, a series of laboratory experiments and static field studies, and a partially controlled dynamic field study. The research was designed to optimize CMS components, including the character variables (font, width-to-height ratio, color, and contrast orientation) and the message variables (inter-letter, inter-word, and inter-line spacing).

• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/68162
• Corporate Authors:

  Last Resource, Incorporated

  309 Armagast Road
  Bellefonte, PA  United States  16823

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • Garvey, P M
  • Mace, D J
• Publication Date: 1996-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 137 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Contrast; Design; Field studies; Guidelines; Laboratory tests; Legibility; Spacing; Traffic signs; Variable message signs; Visibility
• Old TRIS Terms: Traffic sign design
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00724993
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-94-077, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-91-C-00042
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 29 1996 12:00AM