Comprehension of traffic signs with symbolic versus text displays |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel;2. Artificial Intelligence Department, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands;1. College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China;2. Traffic Research Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China;3. Department of Civil Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada;4. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China;5. Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211-0071, USA;6. College of Transportation Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China;1. Department of Geography, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, 91905 Jerusalem, Israel;2. Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 116B, Kgs Lyngby 2800, Denmark;3. School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia 4072, Brisbane, Australia |
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| Abstract: | ObjectiveTo evaluate the benefits of text and symbolic displays in highway signs relative to their familiarity on their comprehension speed and accuracy.BackgroundA recent study that evaluated the influence of ergonomic principles – familiarity, standardization, and symbol-concept compatibility – on traffic sign comprehension showed that comprehension is highly correlated with the compliance with these ergonomic design principles (Ben-Bassat & Shinar, 2006). As an alternative to existing unfamiliar symbolic signs we tested the effect of adding text.MethodDrivers were presented with 30 traffic signs varying in their level of familiarity in three display conditions: standard symbol-only, text-only, and symbol + text. Speed and accuracy of comprehension were recorded.ResultsDisplay condition and familiarity significantly affected both correctness of the answers and reaction time. Correctness improved when the symbol was shown with text, especially when the sign was less familiar.ConclusionsAdding text improves the comprehension and reduces the time it takes to comprehend the sign, especially of unfamiliar signs.ApplicationAdding text could be a simple solution to making (unfamiliar) signs more understandable to a greater segment of the driving population without compromising comprehension time, thereby increasing traffic safety. |
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