TY - JOUR
T1 - Traffic sign symbol comprehension
T2 - A cross-cultural study
AU - Shinar, David
AU - Dewar, Robert E.
AU - Summala, Heikki
AU - Zakowska, Lidia
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank the many people who assisted us in the data collection in the different countries. Part of this research was supported by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, and by Western Ergonomics Inc, Canada.
PY - 2003/12/15
Y1 - 2003/12/15
N2 - The objective of this study was to evaluate the comprehension levels of highway traffic sign symbols used in different countries, to identify underlying rules that affect comprehension levels, and recommend approaches to deal with the problem. The need for such an evaluation was based on today's travel culture where people are often licensed in one country and then drive - without any further training - in another country. We compared the comprehension levels of different traffic sign symbols in four countries with moderate to high levels of motorization: Canada, Finland, Israel, and Poland. Five different driver populations were sampled in each country: novice drivers, college students, tourists, problem drivers, and older drivers. There were large differences in comprehension among specific sign messages, different countries, and different driver populations. Signs were comprehended best when they were consistent with general ergonomic guidelines for display design as they relate to spatial compatibility, conceptual compatibility, physical representation, familiarity, and standardization. Illustrations of compliance with these principles and violations of these principles are presented, and their implication for traffic safety are discussed. Specific recommendations for sign design that is compliant with ergonomic principles, and for greater international cooperation in sign symbol design are made.
AB - The objective of this study was to evaluate the comprehension levels of highway traffic sign symbols used in different countries, to identify underlying rules that affect comprehension levels, and recommend approaches to deal with the problem. The need for such an evaluation was based on today's travel culture where people are often licensed in one country and then drive - without any further training - in another country. We compared the comprehension levels of different traffic sign symbols in four countries with moderate to high levels of motorization: Canada, Finland, Israel, and Poland. Five different driver populations were sampled in each country: novice drivers, college students, tourists, problem drivers, and older drivers. There were large differences in comprehension among specific sign messages, different countries, and different driver populations. Signs were comprehended best when they were consistent with general ergonomic guidelines for display design as they relate to spatial compatibility, conceptual compatibility, physical representation, familiarity, and standardization. Illustrations of compliance with these principles and violations of these principles are presented, and their implication for traffic safety are discussed. Specific recommendations for sign design that is compliant with ergonomic principles, and for greater international cooperation in sign symbol design are made.
KW - Highway safety
KW - Highway traffic signs
KW - Symbol design
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0347757087&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/0014013032000121615
DO - 10.1080/0014013032000121615
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0347757087
SN - 0014-0139
VL - 46
SP - 1549
EP - 1565
JO - Ergonomics
JF - Ergonomics
IS - 15
ER -