Citation

Dewar R, Kline D, Swanson H. Accid. Reconstr. J. 2001; 12(1): 37-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of comprehension of virtually all the symbol highway signs in the U.S. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) among young, middle-aged, and older drivers. Also examined were legibility distance under day, night, and night-with-glare conditions, reaction time, glance legibility, and conspicuity. This work confirms and extends to a larger number of symbols the results of prior work showing that older drivers have a poorer understanding of traffic sign symbols used on U.S. roads. Changes made to 13 standard signs did not yield any overall improvement in comprehension. Although there was no systemic age difference in the extent to which new designs changed comprehension, the oldest study group (70+ years) appeared to benefit the least.