Citation

Hustad M, Dudek C. Transp. Res. Rec. 1999; 1689: 46-52.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.3141/1689-07

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to evaluate abbreviations currently used on changeable message signs (CMSs) in New Jersey and develop new abbreviations specific to the needs of New Jersey transportation agencies. A special emphasis was on developing abbreviated phrases that could be displayed on portable CMSs that have only eight characters per line. Human factors laboratory studies were conducted in both New Jersey and Texas in which a list of abbreviations was given to drivers, who were asked to write down the meanings. The results revealed that a group of 18 abbreviations was quite well understood by New Jersey drivers and met the acceptability criterion of 85 percent of the drivers surveyed. Other abbreviations were understood by 75 to 84 percent of New Jersey drivers, and it will require an extensive educational effort before they can be used on CMSs. Some of the abbreviations were considered unacceptable. There were regional differences with respect to driver understanding of some of the abbreviations. Proper noun abbreviations were found that were understood by 85 percent or more of the drivers tested in New Jersey. As expected, there were regional differences in New Jersey. Generally, the proper noun abbreviations were understood better by drivers who live in the part of the state where the facility or structure is located whose name was abbreviated.

Language: en