Changeable Message Sign Messages for Work Zones: Time of Day, Days of Week, and Month Dates

The New Jersey Department of Transportation initiated a research study which in part is designed to further the state of knowledge of changeable message sign message design with specific application to the needs in New Jersey. This paper reports on human factors laboratory studies conducted in New Jersey to evaluate shorter alternative messages than those currently used regarding the display of time of day, days of week, and calendar dates. These type of messages are oftentimes displayed on portable changeable message signs used in highway work zones . Among the findings were that the “dash” can be used in place of THRU when giving road work for a range of successive days; the term WEEKEND was not a good descriptor for work that begins on Friday evening and ends on Monday morning; the term DAYS did not connote specific daytime, off-peak times for road work, but may be satisfactory for certain time periods; likewise, the term NIGHTS did not connote specific nighttime, off-peak times for road work, but may be satisfactory for certain time periods; NITE is an acceptable substitute for NIGHT; and calendar dates were not easily translated by drivers to specific days of the week.