Alternative Sign Sequences for Work Zones on Rural Highways

Two experiments were done on a two-lane rural road (US-2) in central Maine to evaluate the effectiveness of alternate signing sequences for providing warning to motorists of construction and maintenance activities that require a lane closure on the road ahead. The signs tested included a standard Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device ( MUTCD) warning sequence, the same sequence on both sides of the road augmented with continuously flashing beacons, and a sequence of symbol signs. Data were collected covertly on random motorists by using a combination of inductance loops imbedded in the roadway and piezoelectric cable that (a) the most effective sign sequence was the MUTCD sequence augmented with flashing beacons, (b) the symbol sign sequence appeared to be at least as effective as the standard sequence, and (c) in no instance did the sign sequence appear to cause confusion or potentially dangerous abrupt motorist reaction.