The Efficiency of Two Dimensional Traffic Markers in Referring Commands

In: Human factors: the journal of the Human Factors Society, Volume 6, Issue 4, p. 359-364

Abstract

Commands issued by traffic markers are not meant to be acted upon by every driver. Drivers are intended only to obey signs placed at right angles to the lane they are driving. Perception of orientation is therefore important in determining whether or not the command is to be obeyed. Theoretical knowledge and practical experience indicate that ordinary types of traffic markers have surface characteristics difficult to accurately localize. An experiment in which subjects indicated the orientation of a traffic marker confirmed the hypothesis. It was concluded that ordinary traffic markers have a serious psychological defect. Factors modifying this defect were discussed.