Motorist understanding of directional messages : final report.

Perfater, Michael A · 1981 · ROSA P / Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (full text — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This 1981 study by M. A. Perfater, conducted for the Virginia Transportation Research Council, investigates the degree to which motorists are confused by or misunderstand directional messages on interstate advance and supplemental guide signs. The research was motivated by evidence that driver confusion regarding signage can lead to erratic responses, accidents, and missed exits. Specifically, the study aimed to identify deficiencies in directional guidance as perceived by drivers, determine their needs, and evaluate the value of incorporating motorist input into sign design and placement processes. The methodology involved a self-addressed, mail-back questionnaire distributed to motorists at eight rest areas across Virginia’s interstate system. Approximately 5,100 questionnaires were distributed between October 1980 and May 1981, yielding 1,006 completed responses (a 20% response rate). The sample consisted primarily of out-of-state drivers (61.6%) who were unfamiliar with the specific road segments, with a median age between 51 and 80. The survey focused on the interpretation of "exit instructions" (words or arrows) rather than principal legends, asking respondents to identify confusing messages, express preferences for specific wording, and provide open-ended comments. The findings revealed that one-third of respondents had been confused by a guide sign or led to make a wrong turn. Confusion was inversely related to driving experience; older, more experienced drivers were less likely to be confused than younger drivers. Notably, motorists familiar with a road were more likely to report confusion than those unfamiliar, suggesting that even experienced users can be misled by poor signage. The word "next" was identified as the primary source of confusion, particularly when the exit ramp was in full view, as drivers interpreted it ambiguously as either the immediate exit or the one following. In contrast, "this" and "first" were found to be clearer. For single exits in view, 42% of respondents preferred "this exit," while for multiple ramps, they favored "first" and "second." Additionally, 72% of respondents supported numbering exits, provided the numbers appeared on state highway maps. Motorists also cited deficiencies in signing for left-side exits, noting insufficient time to change lanes and obstruction of right-side signs by large trucks. The study concludes that the wording of guide signs is the most critical element affecting driver comprehension. It recommends that the word "next" be eliminated from advance guide signs for major interchanges and restricted on supplemental signs unless the exit is not visible. Instead, "this" should be used when the exit is in view, and "first/second" for multiple ramps. The report advocates for the increased use of diagrammatic signs, particularly for left exits, and suggests duplicating signs on the left shoulder or using overhead signs to mitigate obstruction by trucks. Finally, it recommends incorporating guide sign interpretation into driver education courses and ensuring public input is sought when new sign types are introduced.

Key finding

Motorists are significantly confused by the word 'next' on guide signs, with confusion levels inversely related to driving experience, leading to recommendations to replace 'next' with 'this' or 'first' and implement exit numbering.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 1006

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• signage environment