In recent years U.S. freeways have seen an increase in the number of exit ramps that feature a two-lane exit with an option lane. This is a situation in which motorists in the rightmost lane of the freeway must exit, and those in the adjacent lane may either exit or continue on the mainline. Communicating information to the motorist about this type of exit is exceptionally difficult. Ideally, a sign should convey the following: ( a) If you stay in the right lane, you will be forced to exit. ( b) If you wish to exit, you may do so from either the right lane or the adjacent lane. ( c) If you are in the adjacent lane and wish to continue on the mainline, you need not change lanes. Making all of these discrete concepts obvious in a simple sign is challenging, and there is no standard sign design for this situation in FHWA's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD). As a result, at least eight different sign designs are being used throughout the United States. This paper presents the results of an NCHRP human factors study conducted to identify the best design for a guide sign for this type of exit. Four candidate sign designs were evaluated with 96 test subjects in a driving simulator. Measures of effectiveness included the number of missed exits and the number of unnecessary lane changes. On the basis of the study results, one of the four designs is recommended for inclusion in the MUTCD.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Guide Signing for Two-Lane Exits with an Option Lane


    Subtitle :

    Evaluation of Human Factors


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2005-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Guide Signing for Two-Lane Exits with Option Lane: Human Factors Evaluation

    National Research Council (U.S.) | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005


    Guide Signing for Two-Lane Exits with an Option Lane: Evaluation of Human Factors

    Upchurch, J. / Fisher, D. L. / Waraich, B. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005



    Guide Signing for Two-Lane Exits with an Option Lane: Evaluation of Human Factors

    Upchurch, Jonathan / Fisher, Donald / Waraich, Bhupinder | Transportation Research Record | 2005


    Signing Two-Lane Freeway Exits with an Option Through Lane in Extreme Conditions: Anatomy of Drivers’ Behavior

    Fisher, Donald L. / Upchurch, Jonathan / Pradhan, Anuj et al. | Transportation Research Record | 2004