WARNING SIGNS AND ADVISORY SPEED SIGNS - REEVALUATION OF PRACTICE - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This project included a survey of state traffic engineers, an unobtrusive "local familiar" driver study and an instrumented vehicle test-driver study which measured driver eye fixation and vehicle measures such as velocity, lane position, gas pedal deflection and brake pedal activations. The two field studies were conducted on rural two-lane highways at two curves and at an intersection. The results of the survey indicate substantial discrepancies in practices among states and within states and a need for more uniform signing policies and practices. The velocities of the "local familiar" drivers are in general slightly higher than the velocities of the test drivers. The analysis of the test driver eye movement and the vehicle data indicates that there are in general no statistically significant differences between run 1 and run 2, between "experienced" and "inexperienced" drivers, between the presence and the absence of Advisory Speed signs or Stop Ahead signs (Exception: avg. intersection approach vel. 3-10 mph slower at night with Stop Ahead signs). Statistically significant differences for some of the measures were observed between the day and the night conditions. One may conclude that the presence of Advisory Speed signs or Stop Ahead signs does not influence driver eye fixations or driver behavior in a statistically and practically significant manner. It is recommended that Table S-1 be adjusted and modified andd that a more effective practice for curve warnings and for intersection warnings be developed. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Ohio University, Athens

  Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
  Athens, OH  United States  45701

  Ohio Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 889
  Columbus, OH  United States  43215

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Zwahlen, H T
• Publication Date: 1983-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 4 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Curves (Geometry); Drivers; Intersections; Measures of effectiveness; Reaction time; Rural highways; Speed signs; Two lane highways; Warning signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction; Effectiveness
• Old TRIS Terms: Advisory speed signs
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00454362
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-OH-84-003
• Contract Numbers: 14327(0)
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1986 12:00AM