Changeable message signs (CMS's) have been used on major highways since the 1970's. However, unlike other traffic control devices, there are no nationally recognized specifications regarding the appearance of CMS's. The absence of guidelines has resulted in CMS's that display many colors, shapes, fonts, borders, and spacings. This research project addressed this issue, with the goal of providing guidelines for both the uniformity and visibility of CMS's. This research included all matrix-type CMS's capable of variable displays, whether light-reflecting, light-emitting, or a hybrid of these technologies.
The object of this contract was to identify problems with the visibility of changeable message signs (CMSs), particularly for older drivers, and to de...
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United States Department of Transportation
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