In an urban environment drivers typically have numerous information sources contributing to performance of driving tasks. An objective of this research is development of a practical tool to help traffic and safety professionals analyze driver information load and select countermeasures for information level corrections. The first task to accomplish the project objective was development of a methodology for quantitative description of informational dimensions of urban freeways, taking into account the complex impact of different information sources. Corresponding with a Positive Guidance concept, all sources of information were classified into three groups in relation to highway, traffic control, and traffic. The first group includes such roadway design features as horizontal and vertical alignments, number of traffic lanes, width of traffic lanes and shoulders, entrance and exit ramps. The traffic control group includes road signs, signals, and pavement markings. The third group, traffic, characterizes impacts of other vehicles on driver information load. In addition, the analysis considers that urban freeways are typically surrounded by numerous objects that are not related to traffic but can take driver attention or create inappropriate background for road signs and therefore interfere with perception of more vital information. These include commercial electronic billboards, commercial static billboards, buildings, and any other objects that consume driver attention but do not relate to traffic. With the purpose of determining typical combinations of the above-mentioned information sources, urban freeways in Texas were investigated. Based on joint analysis of the information load and principles of driver information processing, information quantification criteria were identified and the methodology for quantitative description of informational dimensions of urban freeways was developed. The structure of the utilized information load matrix isolates impacts of different information sources, and, therefore, with further investigations of their impact on driver behavior and reactions, will allow determination of each source contribution.


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    Title :

    Quantitative Description of Informational Dimensions of Urban Freeways


    Contributors:
    A. R. Tsyganov (author) / R. B. Machemehl (author) / L. Vasquez (author) / A. Qatan (author) / D. N. Mohan (author)

    Publication date :

    2004


    Size :

    58 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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