THE PERCEPTIBILITY OF TRAFFIC SIGNS AT NIGHT. A THEORETICAL STUDY

DE WAARNEEMBAARHEID VAN VERKEERSBORDEN BIJ NACHT: EEN THEORETISCHE BESCHOUWING

What would be the effective improvement of the use of a new type of retroreflective material, high intensity grade, with regard to the perceptibility of traffic signs at night? This question will be answered in a two-phase study. The present report describes the results of the first theoretical phase. On the one side it is indicated how criteria with respect to the perceptibility of traffic signs may be developed. On the other side factors are described that influence this perceptibility. Four types of traffic sign were considered: signs provided with retroreflective sheeting engineer grade and high intensity grade, signs that are externally illuminated and signs that are internally illuminated. Visual range is involved in the study as an independent variable. Methods are presented which make a comparison between the detection and recognition distances of the different types of sign possible. Finally, it is indicated how a second experimental phase of this study may be set up. /Author/TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  TNO INSTITUTE FOR PERCEPTION

  KAMPWEG 5, PO BOX 23
  SOESTERBERG,   Netherlands  3769 ZG
• Authors:
  • Godthelp, J
• Publication Date: 1977

Language

• Dutch

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Design; Distance perception; Illuminated traffic signs; Night; Night visibility; Perception; Reflectivity; Reflectorized materials; Retroreflectors; Traffic signs
• Old TRIS Terms: Perception distance
• ITRD Terms: 6784: Colour; 9011: Design (overall design); 9052: Night; 2229: Perception; 5926: Reflectivity; 4523: Reflectorized material; 553: Traffic sign
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163987
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1977 12:00AM