Motorist Direction Finding Aids: Recovery From Freeway Exiting Errors

Mast, Truman M.; Lareau, William Jr.

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Motorist Direction Finding Aids: Recovery From Freeway Exiting Errors

1984-12-01
By Mast, Truman M. ; Lareau, William Jr.

File Language:

English

Details

Creators:

Mast, Truman M. ; Lareau, William Jr.
Corporate Creators:

United States. Federal Highway Administration
Corporate Contributors:

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Subject/TRT Terms:

Behavior Computerized Highway Information Direction Signs Driver Information Systems Drivers Driving Energy Conservation Freeways Guide Signs Highway Information Highway Navigation Intersection Elements Maps Measures Of Effectiveness Motorist Direction-finding Navigation Processes Traffic Signs
Publication/ Report Number:

FHWA/RD-82/098
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Corporate Publisher:

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Abstract:

Two controlled field experiments were conducted to investigate driver directionfinding performance following a missed exit error on a freeway. A total of 118 male and female subjects was observed as they attempted to navigate to a preassigned destination after an induced error. The effectiveness of road maps, an interactive phone information center, and a schematic map generated by a simulated computerized information center were studied. Unaided subjects were observed to have considerable difficulty in recovering from the missed exit error. Use of road maps increased route-finding efficiency. However, a significant proportion of the subjects could not or would not use available maps. The more sophisticated navigational aids were the most effective in improving direction-finding performance. Subjects using the schematic map from the computerized information center performed the best. A severe motorist direction-finding problem exists and additional studies are required to identify practical solutions that can be implemented on a wide scale. It is also concluded that improved motorist direction-finding is a major means to conserve fuel.
Format:

PDF
Funding:

Work unit no. 22N2-072
Collection(s):

US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:81c0bb85c7c56ff77bd896f05ab92464a8221a45320c7a1c9a41116fac7930ab
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/37378/dot_37378_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 2.67 MB ]

File Language:

English

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