Temporary Construction Signage: Driver Preferences for Work Zone Safety

A current concern in roadway construction is the behavior of drivers in response to the location and frequency of construction and permanent signage prior to and within the construction work zone. A research study was conducted to investigate the impacts and effectiveness of temporary construction signage related to multiple sign characteristics, including location, spacing, type, information presented, distraction created, and visibility. In total, 500 survey questionnaires were distributed through Amazon Mechanical Turk to understand drivers’ preferences of temporary signs in work zones in the U.S. The survey revealed that the majority of drivers prefer dynamic signs to static signs. Except for the posted speed limit, drivers prefer to receive more information about work zones from the temporary signs such as distance and travel time through the work zone. Compared to the presence of construction equipment, workers, and lighting in work zones, temporary signage is the least distracting feature. In addition, fisher-exact tests of independence were used to determine the relationship between driver’s age and vehicle type and their perceptions of sign characteristics. The results suggest that driver’s age has a moderate impact on their perception of spacing between temporary signs, and the vehicle type has a moderate impact on their driving behaviors in a long work zone. The results of the study provide construction contractors with guidance on the placement and type of temporary signs, information presented on signs, and placement of construction equipment to ensure safe site conditions and passage through work zones.