License Plate and Telephone Numbers in Changeable Message Sign Amber Alert Messages
Studies were conducted with a driving simulator and laptop computers to determine the effects of displaying license plate and 10-digit telephone numbers in Amber (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) alert changeable message sign messages. The first study was conducted using the Texas Transportation Institute driving environment simulator in College Station, Texas. A laboratory study was also conducted in six cities in Texas. It was found that the average reading time for Amber alert messages with a license plate number was significantly longer than for messages without a license plate number. In addition, the majority of subjects were not able to recall the entire number. A license plate number was found to be equivalent to more than three units of information. Thus a message with a license plate number exceeds current effective message design guidelines that specify a maximum of four units of information in a message and a maximum of three units of information in a message phase. Similarly, the average reading time for messages with a 10-digit telephone number is significantly longer than for messages without a telephone number. The majority of subjects were not able to recall the entire number. A telephone number was found to be equivalent to more than three units of information. A message with a 10-digit telephone number exceeds current effective message design guidelines.
- Record URL:
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- Summary URL:
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Public/Blurbs/159610.aspx
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Authors:
- Dudek, Conrad L
- Schrock, Steven D
- Ullman, Brooke R
- Publication Date: 2007
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: pp 64-71
- Monograph Title: Freeway Operations and High-Occupancy Vehicle Systems 2007
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
- Issue Number: 2012
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0361-1981
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Communication systems; Guidelines; Human factors; Information dissemination; License plates; Messages (Communications); Numbers; Variable message signs
- Identifier Terms: AMBER Alert
- Uncontrolled Terms: Telephone numbers
- Geographic Terms: Texas
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01049587
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 9780309104388
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Feb 8 2007 5:50PM