The effectiveness and safety of traffic and non-traffic related messages presented on changeable message signs : phase II.

Details

• Creators:
  Harder, Kathleen A. ; Bloomfield, John R.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Minnesota. Center for Human Factors Systems Research and Design
• Corporate Contributors:
  Minnesota. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Research Services
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Variable message signs
  • Simulation
  • Traffic signs and signals--Evaluation
  • Highway communications
  • Variable message signs
• Publication/ Report Number:
  MN/RC-2008-27
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Minnesota
• Edition:
  Final report.
• Corporate Publisher:
  Minnesota. Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  In Phase II of this investigation, we used a fully interactive PC-based STISIM driving simulator, to conduct two ; experiments which were similar to experiments in Phase I. The participants were 120 licensed drivers from three ; age groups—18-24, 32-47, and 55-65 years old—who drove, in free flow traffic, for approximately 20 miles on a ; four-lane freeway before encountering target messages on Changeable Message Signs (CMSs). The Phase II CMS ; messages were clearer and less complex than those used in Phase I. In the first experiment the target message was ; changed to “Road Closed/Crash Ahead/Use Thompson Exit:” 93.3% of the participants took the exit—as compared ; to 55.8% in Phase I. In the second experiment, the message was changed to “Abducted Child/Tune To/Radio 88.5 ; FM:” 71.7% of the participants (71.7%) could remember enough information to enable them tune to 88.5 FM—as ; compared to 8.3% who could recall some vehicle information and at least five license plate letters and numbers from ; the Phase I CMS (“AMBER Alert/Red Ford Truck/ MN Lic# SLM 509”). Some participants reduced speed on ; approaching the CMSs, suggesting similar reductions could occur in real world driving in free flow conditions. ; However, when traffic is congested speeds are typically slower, and drivers are less likely to reduce speed still ; further to read CMSs. ; We conducted a survey which showed drivers think it is very useful to have information about traffic problems and ; roadway maintenance schedules on CMSs. Also, we analyzed real-world traffic speed data obtained when CMS ; messages were deployed. Finally, we conducted observations at Mn/DOT’s Regional Transportation Management ; Center (RTMC), focusing on the decision-making processes involved when traffic-related CMS messages are ; deployed.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  (c) 89261 (wo) 27
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/17875/dot_17875_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 473.40 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:ebbd079fa64513cf9c86dcb61954a4ed928f24d05d8a988a509281419042a381