Journal article
Expert Evaluation of Traffic Signs: Conventional vs. Alternative Designs
Ergonomics, Vol.62(6), pp.734-747
2019
Abstract
Traffic sign comprehension is significantly affected by their compliance with ergonomics design principles. Despite the UN Convention, designs vary among countries. The goal of this study was to establish theoretical and methodological bases for evaluating the design of conventional and alternative signs. Thirty-one conventional signs and 1-3 alternatives for each conventional sign were evaluated for their compliance with three ergonomics guidelines for sign design: physical and conceptual compatibility, familiarity, and standardization. Twenty-seven human factors and ergonomics experts from ten countries evaluated the signs relative to their compliance with the guidelines. Analysis of variance across alternatives revealed that for 19 of the 31 signs, an alternative design received a significantly higher rating in its ergonomics design than the conventional sign with the same meaning. We also found a very high correlation between the experts' ratings and comprehension from previous studies. In conclusion, many countries use signs for which better alternative designs exist, and therefore UN Convention signs should be re-examined, and ergonomics experts evaluation can serve as a good surrogate for road users' comprehension surveys.
Details
- Title
- Expert Evaluation of Traffic Signs: Conventional vs. Alternative Designs
- Authors
- Tamar Ben-Bassat (Author) - SCE - Shamoon College of Engineering, IsraelDavid Shinar (Author) - University of the Negev, IsraelRaquel Almqvist (Author) - Transtech SME, BrazilJeff K Caird (Author) - University of Calgary, CanadaRobert E Dewar (Author) - Western Ergonomics Inc, CanadaEsko Lehtonen (Author) - University of Helsinki, FinlandPaul M Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastMarion Sinclair (Author) - Stellenbosch University, South AfricaLidia Zakowska (Author) - Cracow University of Technology, PolandGabriel Liberman (Author) - Research and Statistical Consulting, Israel
- Publication details
- Ergonomics, Vol.62(6), pp.734-747
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1080/00140139.2019.1567829
- ISSN
- 0014-0139; 0014-0139
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2019 Taylor & Francis Ltd. This is an electronic version of an article published in Tamar Ben-Bassat, David Shinar, Raquel Almqvist, Jeff K. Caird, Robert E. Dewar, Esko Lehtonen, Paul M. Salmon, Marion Sinclair, Heikki Summala, Lidia Zakowska & Gabriel Liberman (2019) Expert evaluation of traffic signs: conventional vs. alternative designs, Ergonomics, 62:6, 734-747, DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2019.1567829. Ergonomics is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=0014-0139&volume=62&issue=6&spage=734-747
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450862502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
- Research Statement
- false
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Industrial
- Ergonomics
- Psychology
- Psychology, Applied
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