EVALUATION OF SELECTED MESSAGES AND CODES FOR REAL-TIME MOTORIST INFORMATION DISPLAYS (ABRIDGMENT)

The results of this study suggest that changeable message signs may be an effective tool for communicating with urban freeway drivers. Through motorist diversion, they contribute to the reduction in overall delay to the motorist as well as the reduction in total demand on the freeway. Especially important was the significantly positive reaction to the signs and toward the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation for their attempts at reducing congestion. Five specific findings are drawn from the results of this research. First, the freeway sign was visible and had a high target value (96 percent of the motorist responding to questionnaires had seen the signs). Second, a majority of motorists understood the signs and the several messages. Of those who understood, 82 percent used the information. Third, the motoring public did not satisfactorily learn the letter grade and freeway condition relationship. Lack of anchoring of the rating scale may have been a contributing factor. Fourth, a majority (78 percent) of the respondents rated the system useful or very useful, including a slight majority (51 percent) who indicated that the system could be improved. Fifth, the analysis of motorist comments revealed that the indication of which lane is blocked when LANE BLOCKED is displayed is highly desirable.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/600/600-009.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EVALUATION+OF+SELECTED+MESSAGES+AND+CODES+FOR+REAL-TIME+MOTORIST+INFORMATION+DISPLAYS+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=W.+Stockton&author=C.+Dudek&author=D.+Fambro&author=C.+Messer&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Motorist Information Systems.. 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:
  • Stockton, William R
  • Dudek, C L
  • Fambro, D B
  • Messer, C J
• Conference:
  • 55th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1976-1-19 to 1976-1-23
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 40-41
• Monograph Title: Motorist information systems and services
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 600
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coding systems; Drivers; Evaluation; Information management; Information, data, and knowledge; Motorist aid systems; Reaction time; Real time control; Traffic congestion; Variable message signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Old TRIS Terms: Real-time systems
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00153134
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025699
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 31 1977 12:00AM