Book Description

The objective of this study was to develop and test word and symbol traffic control and hazard messages for portable changeable message signs (PCMSs). The messages were designed for the standard PCMS with three lines of eight characters. First, a comprehensive listing of candidate PCMS messages was developed. This was done by interviewing State highway engineers, surveying PCMS manufacturers and questioning motorists. In those situations where subjects did not express an overwhelming sign preference additional field testing was done. The detection distances of the candidate messages were determined using a PCMS under both day and night conditions.