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Abstract
Key Takeaways
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External and internal representations of road pictographic signs

Profile image of Alexandre LacasteAlexandre LacasteProfile image of Brigitte LavaletteBrigitte LavaletteProfile image of Charles TijusCharles Tijus

2004

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12 pages

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Abstract

Contrary to novice drivers that learn the univocal meaning of road signs, expert drivers get low scores about the meaning of road panels that are made of icons and of graphic signs. This is a surprising case of practice lessening performance. We argue that the meaning of road signs is built in the context of the driver task and in the context of the current road situation. We have run an experiment that show that expert drivers fail to the "what does it mean" question when road signs are displayed in isolation or in the context of a real road situation, but they succeed to the "what to do" questioning. We described the whole set of 300 road signs both from their surface properties (form, color, icons, …) and from the required actions. The road signalization system appears to be a complex system that is not fully coherent since surface properties partially match the corresponding actions properties. Finally, we advocate that contextual graphs capture the effects of task and road context, as well as the automatization and proceduralization processes since it allows encapsulation of action sequences.

Key takeaways
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  1. Expert drivers' understanding of road signs diminishes with practice, inversely correlating with years of driving experience.
  2. The study included 123 participants, categorized by driving experience, assessing their interpretation of 40 road signs.
  3. Road signs' meanings rely heavily on contextual cues, affecting drivers' decision-making processes significantly.
  4. A total of 300 road signs were analyzed based on surface properties and required actions for clearer understanding.
  5. Contextual graphs effectively model drivers' decision-making by encapsulating action sequences within specific driving situations.
Figures (5)
Figure 1. The making of a road sign: design of a cow combined (a) with a “danger” sign, would mean “danger because of cows”, (b) with an “interdiction” sign would mean “‘in- terdiction for cows”. Similarly, note that Figure 1-b means “danger because of cows”, not “danger for cows”, and Figure l-c means “interdiction for cows”, not “interdiction be- cause of cows”: the relation between components is an information that is not provided by the road sign: the whole of the Icon is more than the sum of its parts (Harmon and Julesz, 1973; Szlichcinski, 1980). Given that object category (commonalities of possible instances) and action (at least two states of an event) cannot be pictured in static visual images, components of road signs are to be understood in context. In fact, signs do not provide their intended concepts and action, even when the pictured objects in icons are easily recognizable. Moreo- ver, while incorrect interpretation of road rules has potentially serious implica- tions on road safety outcome, according to inquiry results, most of the drivers do not match road signs with their intended meaning.
Figure 1. The making of a road sign: design of a cow combined (a) with a “danger” sign, would mean “danger because of cows”, (b) with an “interdiction” sign would mean “‘in- terdiction for cows”. Similarly, note that Figure 1-b means “danger because of cows”, not “danger for cows”, and Figure l-c means “interdiction for cows”, not “interdiction be- cause of cows”: the relation between components is an information that is not provided by the road sign: the whole of the Icon is more than the sum of its parts (Harmon and Julesz, 1973; Szlichcinski, 1980). Given that object category (commonalities of possible instances) and action (at least two states of an event) cannot be pictured in static visual images, components of road signs are to be understood in context. In fact, signs do not provide their intended concepts and action, even when the pictured objects in icons are easily recognizable. Moreo- ver, while incorrect interpretation of road rules has potentially serious implica- tions on road safety outcome, according to inquiry results, most of the drivers do not match road signs with their intended meaning.
Table 1. Percentage of correct responses when road signs are displayed in isolation or displayed in the context of a real road situation, and when the questioning was about “what does it mean?” or “which action is to be performed?” The same pattern of results is observed when questioning about the “what does it means” when the road sign is displayed in the context of a real road situation. In opposite, responses of all the participants were quite perfect about “what to do” when facing the road sign in a road situation.
Table 1. Percentage of correct responses when road signs are displayed in isolation or displayed in the context of a real road situation, and when the questioning was about “what does it mean?” or “which action is to be performed?” The same pattern of results is observed when questioning about the “what does it means” when the road sign is displayed in the context of a real road situation. In opposite, responses of all the participants were quite perfect about “what to do” when facing the road sign in a road situation.
Figure 2. The taxonomy of surface properties (shape and color) of 199 road signs. shape and color of the sign, (ii) the label of the sign that indicates its function, (iii) the category of action concerned (information, danger, prohibition, obliga- tion), and (iv) the object on which the action is to be applied.
Figure 2. The taxonomy of surface properties (shape and color) of 199 road signs. shape and color of the sign, (ii) the label of the sign that indicates its function, (iii) the category of action concerned (information, danger, prohibition, obliga- tion), and (iv) the object on which the action is to be applied.
Figure 4. The whole set of possible decision-action facing a “Curve on the right” road sign as formalized in a Contextual Graph. Legendary: - NC1 (Contextual Node 1): Do I see the road sign? - Al (Action 1): No, then I keep the same behavior, - NC2: Yes, do I recognize it? - A2: No, then I need to identify it from the situation, - NR2 (Recombination Node 2): I do recognize the road sign, - A3: I have to find the situation corresponding to the road sign, -NC3: What about the distance to the obstacle? - A4: The obstacle is close: I have to focus on it immediately, - AS: The obstacle is far: I first suspend other actions, - A6: I reduce my speed, in order to... - A7: ...turn left. diagnosis and actions, the different ways to reach a goal, and the elements for choosing an action sequence.
Figure 4. The whole set of possible decision-action facing a “Curve on the right” road sign as formalized in a Contextual Graph. Legendary: - NC1 (Contextual Node 1): Do I see the road sign? - Al (Action 1): No, then I keep the same behavior, - NC2: Yes, do I recognize it? - A2: No, then I need to identify it from the situation, - NR2 (Recombination Node 2): I do recognize the road sign, - A3: I have to find the situation corresponding to the road sign, -NC3: What about the distance to the obstacle? - A4: The obstacle is close: I have to focus on it immediately, - AS: The obstacle is far: I first suspend other actions, - A6: I reduce my speed, in order to... - A7: ...turn left. diagnosis and actions, the different ways to reach a goal, and the elements for choosing an action sequence.

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