Citation

Chadda HS, Carter EC. Transp. Res. Rec. 1983; 926: 15-24.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1983, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Sign vandalism has become a costly and often deadly national problem. In addition to the millions of dollars in cost to replace vandalized signs, this situation denies motorists the critical information necessary for safe driving and increases the potential for severe traffic accidents. Nationally, the replacement costs for vandalized signs are startling--about $50 million annually in direct costs and indirect costs for injuries and tort liability claims of about the same magnitude. The accident statistics on fatalities, property damages, and personal injuries that result from vandalized or missing signs are frightening and point out the magnitude of the problem. Some jurisdictions have become alarmed at the increasing rate of sign vandalism and its adverse economic, social, and safety impacts. The nature, magnitude, and criticality of the sign vandalism problem requires a strong concerted effort at both the national and local levels to combat this costly and dangerous traffic safety problem. A grass roots approach is suggested for a full understanding of who vandalizes signs, why they do so, when and where sign vandalism is more pronounced, and the true consequences of this prankishness. Positive and problem-specific countermeasures (physical, legal, judicial and enforcement, and educational) that should be pursued at the national, state, and local levels are discussed in this paper. A systems approach framework for selecting countermeasures for local and problem-specific sign vandalism was developed and partly tested. This approach should be fully implemented.

Language: en

Keywords

HIGHWAY SIGNS, SIGNALS AND MARKINGS; COST ACCOUNTING; SIGNS - Repair