Road sign vision and driver behaviour in work zones

Vignali, Valeria; Bichicchi, Arianna; Simone, Andrea; Lantieri, Claudio; Dondi, Giulio; Costa, Marco · 2019 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2018.11.005

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Summary

This study investigates the effectiveness of temporary roadwork signs in influencing driver visual behavior and safety in rural work zones, addressing a gap in literature that has predominantly focused on highways. The research aims to determine whether drivers adequately perceive these signs and adjust their speed accordingly, using eye-tracking technology to measure visual fixations in a real-world driving environment. The experiment involved 29 participants driving 27 km along rural roads in Northern Italy, encountering 23 work zones with 69 vertical signs. Researchers utilized an ASL Mobile Eye-XG eye tracker synchronized with a GPS data logger to record visual fixations and kinematic data, including speed and acceleration. The study compared visual behavior toward temporary (yellow background) and permanent (white background) signs, analyzing fixation frequency, duration, distance, and speed adjustments. Data analysis included frame-by-frame assessment of eye movements and statistical comparisons of speed parameters relative to sign visibility and driver demographics. Results indicated that drivers glanced at work zone signs with a mean frequency of 40.14%, a rate similar to that of permanent signs (39.78%) but higher than signs in non-work zones (25%). Drivers fixated more frequently and for longer durations on single, isolated signs compared to multiple signs within a zone. The presence of visible roadwork activity significantly increased the fixation rate on the first temporary sign to 62.96%. However, safety metrics revealed concerning behaviors: drivers fixated on signs at an average distance of 43.5 meters, which was insufficient for a safe stop in 80.52% of cases. Furthermore, 14% of participants exceeded the 70 km/h speed limit at the moment of first fixation. Speed reduction was significantly correlated with driver age and expertise, with older and more experienced drivers slowing down more effectively. The findings suggest that while work zone signs attract more attention than standard signs, they fail to capture driver attention in the majority of cases, leading to unsafe driving behaviors. The study concludes that temporary signage alone is often insufficient to ensure safety, particularly when drivers do not perceive an immediate physical constraint or visible activity. The results highlight the need for improved sign design or placement to enhance conspicuity and ensure drivers have adequate time to react safely to work zone hazards.

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Topics

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• work zones
• emergency work zone conspicuity
• external distraction
• gaze based attention detection
• rail grade crossings
• signage environment

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data, observational prevalence
• Theoretical Contribution: theory or model