Using Eye-Tracking for Traffic Control Signage Design at Highway Work Zone

Abstract

This paper discusses the application of Eye Tracking (ET) technologies for researchers to understand a driver’s perception of signage at the highway work zone. Combining ET within a screen-based motion pictures and a driving simulator, the team developed an analytical method that allowed designers to evaluate signage design. Two experiments were set up to investigate how signage design might affect a driver’s visual attention and interaction under various environmental complexities and glare conditions. The study explores the visual perception related to several spatial features, including signage modality, scene complexity, and color schemes. The ET method utilizes total fixation time and time to first fixation data to evaluate the effectiveness of signage presented through screen-based video and a driving simulator.

Keywords

• eye-tracking
• signage design
• work zone safety