Evaluation of Two Methods of Prompting Drivers to Use Specific Exits on Conflicts between Vehicles at the Critical Exit

Autor/inn/en	Van Houten, Ron; Malenfant, J. E. Louis; Zhao, Nan; Ko, Byungkon; Van Houten, Jonathan
Titel	Evaluation of Two Methods of Prompting Drivers to Use Specific Exits on Conflicts between Vehicles at the Critical Exit
Quelle	In: Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 38 (2005) 3, S.289 (14 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-8855
Schlagwörter	Proximity; Motor Vehicles; Traffic Safety; Signs; Parks; Evaluation Methods; Prompting; Cues; Accident Prevention; Florida + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Lebensnähe; Motor vehicle; Kraftwagen; Zeichensystem; Freizeitpark; Benutzerführung; Stichwort; Accident statistics; Unfall; Statistik; Unfallstatistik
Abstract	The Florida Department of Transportation used a series of changeable-message signs that functioned as freeway guide signs to divert traffic to Universal Theme Park via one of two eastbound exits based on traffic congestion at the first of the two exits. An examination of crashes along the entire route indicated a statistically significant increase in crashes at the first eastbound exit following the actuation of the system. Furthermore, all of the crashes occurred in close proximity to the exit gore (the crosshatched area at exits that drivers are not supposed to enter or traverse) at the first exit. In Experiment 1, behavioral data were collected using an alternating treatments design. These data revealed that reassigning the exit signs was effective in producing a change in the percentage of drivers using each of the two exits. These data also showed that the reassignment of the theme park exit was associated with an increase in the percentage of motor vehicle conflicts that consisted of vehicles cutting across the exit gore. An analysis revealed that the method used for switching the designated or active theme park exit on the series of changeable-message signs led to the presentation of conflicting messages to some motorists, thus resulting in erratic driving behavior (cutting across the exit gore). In Experiment 2, the treatment evaluated the use of a phased method of switching the designated theme park exit to eliminate the delivery of conflicting messages. The new method for switching the designated theme park exit was not associated with an increase in motorists cutting across the exit gore. (Author).
Anmerkungen	Department of Applied Behavioral Science, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., KU, Lawrence, KS 66045-2133. Web site: http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu.
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10