Freeway Guide Signing: Review of Past Research (0-4170-1)

This report summarizes past research regarding freeway guide signing. This literature review was used to determine the significant findings from past studies, and to determine areas where future research is needed. This report covers a number of areas related to freeway guide signing. Differences between the current Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and national MUTCD are summarized. Research on driver information processing is examined, and past studies that identified deficiencies in guide signs in the field are reviewed. Research related to the selection of guide sign messages is reviewed, and guidelines for the design and layout of guide signs are summarized. Procedures for maintaining freeway guide signs are also examined. This information will be used to formulate guidelines for the Freeway Signing Handbook that will be produced by this project. It will also serve to focus the scope of new research that will be used to create guidelines for the Handbook.