Study On Optimization Of Traffic Sign Design Based On Comprehension

Traffic signs are to provide regulations, warnings and guidance information forroad users in terms of color, shape, words, and symbols. They are one ofindispensable parts that make up the traffic management system. With the rapidexpansion of urban built-up area size and road network, the traffic sign systemupdates continuously and is to be more plentiful. Comprehension is one of theimportant need that a sign should be met. The success of playing the function of“Road Language” largely depended on whether drivers could comprehend signscorrectly. However, the study on traffic signs in China started late, and reseaches onsymbol design are not impressive enough. And at the same time, a rapid increase inmotor vehicle makes the driving population increasing diversification andspecialization. Because of these reasons, part of traffic signs can not be wellcomprehended. Therefore, it is very urgent to carry out a survey on thecomprehension of traffic signs. Based on that survey, the optimization of traffic signscan be researched for the porpursed of improving the ciomprehension of traffic signs.The content in this ppaper includes four parts, i.e. the survey on thecomprehension of traffic signs, the system of design factors affecting thecopmprehension level and method of sign design optimization. A comprehensivesurvey of drivers’ comprehension of traffic signs was conducted in this paper. Thesigns in GB5768-2009—"Road traffic signs and markings" were inverstigated. Therewere102signs which included warnings signs, prohibition signs, indicating signs andguide signs. The comprehension level of every sign was assessed. The signcomprehension level is a combined results that affected by drivers’ characteristics anddesign factors of signs. For the pupose of assessing the copmprehension of trafficsigns based on design layer, a method of traffic sign classification based on signcomprehension level was made. In this part of the paper, the signs was dividedinitially using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. And then, considering drivers’individual characteristics and homogeneity test within every cluster were made. Atlast the traffic signs was divided into four clusters, i.e. excellent, well, fair, and poor.The comprehension of signs could be located and assessed correctly from acomprehension perspective.Traffic signs with poor comprehension level were difficult to pass information tothe driver effectively. And it would affect the drivers’ decision-making and drivingbehavior, which might cause serious potential safety hazard. For improving the designquarlity of traffic signs, the designs factors that affecting sign comprehension weredetermined in this paper. Firstly, the principles, criteria and guidelines for icon design were summarized in this paper. And then a survey of importance level was conducted.The component analysis was used to achieve four principal component of designfactors. The four factors were meaning clarity, rational layout, images and physicalstyle. The importance order between these four principal factor was made in thispaper. The poor level of understanding of traffic signs is difficult to pass informationto the driver effective road, thus affecting the driver’s decision-making and drivingbehavior, and even lead to serious security risks. This paper summarizes the design ofgraphical symbols in order to improve the quality of the design of traffic signs, relatedindicators, principles, guidelines, and the importance of evaluation, the use of themathematical method of factor analysis the four categories of design factors,respectively, meaning clarity, rational layout, images, style, shape, and calculate theweight of each factor, the importance order to optimize the design factors. On thebasis of the system of design factors affecting on traffic sign comprehension, themethod of optimization design for traffic signs was determined in this paper. In theend, five typical signs with poor comprehension were optimized using the methoddescribed in the previous chapter. And the evaluation of design alternatives of typicalsigns was developed. The results showed that the comprehension level had obviousimproved after optimization. It proved that the method of optimization design fortraffic signs was effective.Firstly, the warning signs, prohibition signs, inditating signs and guide signs inGB5768-2009—"Road traffic signs and markings" were inverstigated in this paper.And the signs with poor comprehension were summarized. Thirdly, the system ofdesign factors affecting on traffic sign comprehension was established from the layerof traffic sign design. At last, the method of optimization design for traffic signs wasdetermined. This study will provide foundation for the study of comprehension anddesign of traffic signs.