AGE DIFFERENCES IN COMPREHENSION OF TRAFFIC SIGN SYMBOLS

Previous research has shown that drivers, particularly elderly ones, do not understand many of the symbolic traffic signs on U.S. highways. Phase I of this research examined comprehension levels of virtually all (85) of the symbols in the U.S. "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways" (FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1988) as a function of age. Subsequently, new versions of 13 of these symbols and 5 novel symbols were tested. Drivers in Texas, Idaho, and Alberta, Canada, participated in the studies. Of the 85 standard symbols, 16 were understood by more than 95% of drivers; however, 10 were understood by less than 40%. Older drivers had poorer understanding than younger ones of 39% of the symbols examined; for the remainder there were no age differences. In Phase II modifications and redesigns to selected symbols resulted in better understanding of three messages and poorer understanding of four messages. Comprehension of the novel symbols was close to that of the modified and redesigned ones. Again, older drivers had poorer understanding, but there was no systematic relationship between age and changes in comprehension level following revision of the symbols.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1994/1456/1456-001.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=AGE+DIFFERENCES+IN+COMPREHENSION+OF+TRAFFIC+SIGN+SYMBOLS&author=R.+Dewar&author=D.+Kline&author=H.+Swanson&publication_year=1994
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1456, Traffic Signing, Signals, and Visibility. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Dewar, Robert E
  • Kline, Donald W
  • Swanson, H Allen
• Publication Date: 1994

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1-10
• Monograph Title: Traffic signing, signals, and visibility
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1456
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Comprehension; Data collection; Drivers; Innovation; Surveys; Symbols; Traffic signs
• Identifier Terms: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Uncontrolled Terms: Modifications
• Geographic Terms: Alberta; Idaho; Texas
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00677585
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309060648
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 3 1995 12:00AM