Conspicuity of Traffic Signs Assessed by Eye Tracking and Immediate Recall

摘要

Traffic sign conspicuity was assessed with eye glance and immediate recall measures. Sign conspicuity isdefined as the probability that the signs will be noticed. However, the measurement of being noticed iscomplex. Drivers' glances to signs were recorded on a 34 mile drive. Recall was assessed by requestingsign identification immediately after selected signs were passed. Only about half of all signs were recalledjust 2 s after they were passed. About 20 percent of speed limit signs received glances; however driverswere aware of the posted speed limit about 80 percent of the time. Drivers may glance at signs, yet fail toidentify them and may correctly identify signs in the absence of a glance. Conspicuity measures that relysolely on either glance or recall are not adequate for evaluating the attention getting qualities of trafficsigns.